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Precedents are the disgrace of legislation. They are not wanted to justify right measures, are absolutely insufficient to excuse wrong ones. They can only be useful to heralds, dancing masters, and gentlemen ushers.
Laurence Sterne
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Laurence Sterne
Age: 54 †
Born: 1713
Born: November 24
Died: 1768
Died: March 18
Autobiographer
Novelist
Religious
Writer
Right
Useful
Precedent
Excuse
Insufficient
Dancing
Gentlemen
Absolutely
Measures
Masters
Disgrace
Ones
Legislation
Ushers
Wrong
Justify
Heralds
Wanted
Gentleman
Precedents
More quotes by Laurence Sterne
Learning is the dictionary, but sense the grammar of science.
Laurence Sterne
Heaven be their resource who have no other but the charity of the world, the stock of which, I fear, is no way sufficient for the many great claims which are hourly made upon it.
Laurence Sterne
Shall we be destined to the days of eternity, on holy-days, as well as working-days, to be showing the relics of learning, as monks do the relics of their saints - without working one - one single miracle with them?
Laurence Sterne
I know not whether the remark is to our honour or otherwise, that lessons of wisdom have never such power over us, as when they are wrought into the heart, through the ground-work of a story which engages the passions: Is it that we are like iron, and must first be heated before we can be wrought upon?
Laurence Sterne
Freethinkers are generally those who never think at all.
Laurence Sterne
Men tire themselves in the pursuit of sleep.
Laurence Sterne
When, to gratify a private appetite, it is once resolved upon that an ignorant and helpless creature shall be sacrificed, it is an easy matter to pick up sticks enough from any thicket where it has strayed, to make a fire to offer it up with.
Laurence Sterne
Almost one half of our time is spent in telling and hearing evil of one another ... and every hour brings forth something strange and terrible to fill up our discourse and our astonishment.
Laurence Sterne
The way to fame, is like the way to heaven,--through much tribulation.
Laurence Sterne
To write a book is for all the world like humming a song—be but in tune with yourself, madam, 'tis no matter how high or how low you take it.
Laurence Sterne
The best hearts are ever the bravest.
Laurence Sterne
Writing, when properly managed, (as you may be sure I think mine is) is but a different name for conversation.
Laurence Sterne
Respect for ourselves guides our morals, respect for others guides our manners.
Laurence Sterne
An atheist is more reclaimable than a papist, as ignorance is sooner cured than superstition.
Laurence Sterne
The history of a soldier's wound beguiles the pain of it.
Laurence Sterne
Nothing is so perfectly amusing as a total change of ideas.
Laurence Sterne
When the affections so kindly break loose, Joy, is another name for Religion.
Laurence Sterne
For every ten jokes you acquire a hundred enemies.
Laurence Sterne
If time, like money, could be laid by while one was not using it, there might be some excuse for the idleness of half of the world, but yet not a full one. For even this would be such an economy as the living on a principal sum, without making it purchase interest.
Laurence Sterne
Every thing in this world, said my father, is big with jest,--and has wit in it, and instruction too,--if we can but find it out.
Laurence Sterne
