Quote

Recreation is intended to the mind as whetting is to the scythe, to sharpen the edge of it, which otherwise would grow dull and blunt,--as good no scythe as no edge.

Joseph Hall

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Joseph Hall
Age: 82 †
Born: 1574
Born: July 1
Died: 1656
Died: September 8
Clergyman
Poet
Priest
Writer
Ashby-de-la-Zouch
Leicestershire
Grow
Sharpen
Grows
Blunt
Mind
Recreation
Good
Intended
Would
Edge
Dull
Edges
Scythes
Otherwise
Scythe

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Even the best things ill used become evils and, contrarily, the worst things used well prove good.
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Revenge commonly hurts both the offerer and sufferer as we see in a foolish bee, which in her anger invenometh the flesh and loseth her sting, and so lives a drone ever after.
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There would not be so many open mouths if there were not so many open ears.
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I have seldom seen much ostentation and much learning met together. The sun, rising and declining, makes long shadows at mid day, when he is highest, none at all.
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Not to be afflicted is a sign of weakness for, therefore God imposeth no more on me, because He sees I can bear no more.
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Mark in what order: first, our calling then, our election not beginning with our election first. By our calling, arguing our election.
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Tranquillity consisteth in a steadiness of the mind and how can that vessel that is beaten upon by contrary waves and winds, and tottereth to either part, be said to keep a steady course? Resolution is the only mother of security.
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The blood that is once inflamed with wine is apt to boil with rage.
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Heaven hath many tongues to talk of it, more eyes to behold it, but few hearts that rightly affect it.
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It is not he that reads most, but he that meditates most on Divine truth, that will prove the choicest, wisest, strongest Christian.
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There is many a rich stone laid up in the bowels of the earth, many a fair pearl laid up in the bosom of the sea, that never was seen, nor never shall be.
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Let me know myself let others guess at me.
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The proud man hath no God the envious man hath no neighbor the angry man hath not himself.
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Society is the atmosphere of souls and we necessarily imbibe from it something which is either infectious or healthful.
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Christian society is like a bundle of sticks laid together, whereof one kindles another. Solitary men have fewest provocations to evil, but, again, fewest incitations to good. So much as doing good is better than not doing evil will I account Christian good-fellowship better than an hermitish and melancholy solitariness.
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Good prayers never come creeping home. I am sure I shall receive either what I ask, or what I should ask.
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As you see in a pair of bellows, there is a forced breath without life, so in those that are puffed up with the wind of ostentation, there may be charitable words without works.
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Death did not first strike Adam, the first sinful man, nor Cain, the first hypocrite, but Abel, the innocent and righteous. The first soul that met with death, overcame death the first soul that parted from earth went to heaven. Death argues not displeasure, because he whom God loved best dies first, and the murderer is punished with living.
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He that taketh his own cares upon himself loads himself in vain with an uneasy burden. I will cast all my cares on God He hath bidden me they cannot burden Him.
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We are often infinitely mistaken, and take the falsest measures, when we envy the happiness of rich and great men we know not the inward canker that eats out all their joy and delight, and makes them really much more miserable than ourselves.
Joseph Hall