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
Grows
Blunt
Mind
Recreation
Good
Intended
Would
Edge
Dull
Edges
Scythes
Otherwise
Scythe
Grow
Sharpen

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A good man is kinder to his enemy than bad men are to their friends.
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Worldly ambition is founded on pride or envy, but emulation, or laudable ambition, is actually founded in humility for it evidently implies that we have a low opinion of our present attainments, and think it necessary to be advanced.
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I first adventure, follow me who list And be the second English satirist
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[W]e all lie down in our bed of earth as sure to wake as ever we can be to shut our eyes.
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...Covetousness, looking more at what we would have than at what we have.
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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.
Joseph Hall
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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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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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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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I have seldom seen much ostentation and much learning met together.
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This field is so spacious that it were easy for a man to lose himself in it and if I should spend all my pilgrimage in this walk, my time would sooner end than my way.
Joseph Hall
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Let me know myself let others guess at me.
Joseph Hall
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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.
Joseph Hall
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It is a shame for the tongue to cast itself upon the uncertain pardon of other's ears
Joseph Hall
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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
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And, if I were so low that I accounted myself the worst of all, yet some would account themselves in worse case.
Joseph Hall
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There would not be so many open mouths if there were not so many open ears.
Joseph Hall
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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.
Joseph Hall
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Earthly greatness is a nice thing, and requires so much chariness in the managing, as the contentment of it cannot requite.
Joseph Hall
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Nothing fools people as much as extreme passion.
Joseph Hall