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

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Nothing fools people as much as extreme passion.
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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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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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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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The proud man hath no God the envious man hath no neighbor the angry man hath not himself.
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For whom he means to make an often guest, One dish shall serve and welcome make the rest.
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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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And, if I were so low that I accounted myself the worst of all, yet some would account themselves in worse case.
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Our good purposes foreslowed are become our tormentors upon our deathbed.
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Moderation is the silken string running through the pearl chain of all virtues.
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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.
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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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Society is the atmosphere of souls and we necessarily imbibe from it something which is either infectious or healthful.
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Let me know myself let others guess at me.
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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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Heaven hath many tongues to talk of it, more eyes to behold it, but few hearts that rightly affect it.
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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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I first adventure, follow me who list And be the second English satirist
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There is no enemy can hurt us but by our own hands. Satan could not hurt us, if our own corruption betrayed us not. Afflictions cannot hurt us without our own impatience. Temptations cannot hurt us, without our own yieldance. Death could not hurt us, without the sting of our own sins. Sins could not hurt us, without our own impenitence.
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It is a shame for the tongue to cast itself upon the uncertain pardon of other's ears
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