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Certainly it was ordained as a scourge upon the pride of human wisdom, that the wisest of us all, should thus outwit ourselves, and eternally forego our purposes in the intemperate act of pursuing them.

Laurence Sterne

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Laurence Sterne
Age: 54 †
Born: 1713
Born: November 24
Died: 1768
Died: March 18
Autobiographer
Novelist
Religious
Writer
Wisdom
Pursuing
Purpose
Wisest
Upon
Purposes
Intemperate
Human
Excess
Outwit
Humans
Thus
Forego
Ambition
Scourge
Certainly
Ordained
Pride
Eternally

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Digressions, incontestably, are the sunshine, the life, the soul of reading! Take them out and one cold eternal winter would reign in every page. Restore them to the writer - he steps forth like a bridegroom, bids them all-hail, brings in variety and forbids the appetite to fail.
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The happiness of life may be greatly increased by small courtesies in which there is no parade, whose voice is too still to tease, and which manifest themselves by tender and affectionate looks, and little kind acts of attention.
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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.
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We often think ourselves inconsistent creatures, when we are the furthest from it, and all the variety of shapes and contradictory appearances we put on, are in truth but so many different attempts to gratify the same governing appetite.
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An atheist is more reclaimable than a papist, as ignorance is sooner cured than superstition.
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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?
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When my way is too rough for my feet, or too steep for my strength, I get off it to some smooth velvet path which fancy has scattered over with rosebuds of delights and, having taken a few turns in it, come back strengthened and refreshed.
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A good simile,--as concise as a king's declaration of love.
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First, whenever a man talks loudly against religion, always suspect that it is not his reason, but his passions, which have got the better of his creed. A bad life and a good belief are disagreeable and troublesome neighbors, and where they separate, depend upon it, 'Tis for no other cause but quietness sake.
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Patience cannot remove, but it can always dignify and alleviate, misfortune.
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I had had an affair with the moon, in which there was neither sin nor shame.
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We are born to trouble and we may depend upon it, whilst we live in this world, we shall have it, though with intermissions.
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Most of us are aware of and pretend to detest the barefaced instances of that hypocrisy by which men deceive others, but few of us are upon our guard or see that more fatal hypocrisy by which we deceive and over-reach our own hearts.
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When the affections so kindly break loose, Joy, is another name for Religion.
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An actor should be able to create the universe in the palm of his hand.
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Learning is the dictionary, but sense the grammar of science.
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Our passion and principals are constantly in a frenzy, but begin to shift and waver, as we return to reason.
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Did ever woman, since the creation of the world, interrupt a man with such a silly question?
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Only the brave know how to forgive it is the most refined and generous pitch of virtue human nature can arrive at.
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The best hearts are ever the bravest.
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