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Violins are the lively, forward, importunate wits, that distinguish themselves by the flourishes of imagination, sharpness of repartee, glances of satire, and bear away the upper part in every consort.

Richard Steele

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Richard Steele
Age: 57 †
Born: 1672
Born: March 12
Died: 1729
Died: September 1
Journalist
Playwright
Politician
Writer
Dublin city
Sir Richard Steele
Bear
Wits
Musical
Upper
Bears
Satire
Consort
Forward
Lively
Violins
Imagination
Violin
Repartee
Away
Distinguish
Importunate
Part
Glances
Sharpness
Every
Wit
Flourishes

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Zeal for the public good is the characteristic of a man of honor and a gentleman, and must take the place of pleasures, profits and all other private gratifications.
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Since our persons are not of our own making, when they are such as appear defective or uncomely, it is, methinks, an honest and laudable fortitude to dare to be ugly.
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I was going home two hours ago, but was met by Mr. Griffith, who has kept me ever since. . . . I will come within a pint of wine.
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No woman is capable of being beautiful who is not incapable of being false.
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A fool is in himself the object of pity, until he is flattered.
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Modesty never rages, never murmurs, never pouts when it is ill-treated, it pines, it beseeches, it languishes.
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The world is grown so full of dissimulation and compliment, that men's words are hardly any signification of their thoughts.
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Fire and swords are slow engines of destruction, compared to the tongue of a Gossip.
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The man is mechanically turned, and made for getting. . . . It was verily prettily said that we may learn the little value of fortune by the persons on whom Heaven is pleased to bestow it.
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I know of no manner of speaking so offensive as that of giving praise, and closing it with an exception.
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When a man is not disposed to hear music, there is not a more disagreeable sound in harmony than that of the violin.
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Age in a virtuous person, of either sex, carries in it an authority which makes it preferable to all the pleasures of youth.
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A Woman is naturally more helpless than the other Sex and a Man of Honour and Sense should have this in his View in all Manner of Commerce with her.
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Conversation never sits easier upon us than when we now and then discharge ourselves in a symphony of laughter, which may not improperly be called the chorus of conversation.
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The survivorship of a worthy man in his son is a pleasure scarce inferior to the hopes of the continuance of his own life.
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I look upon it as a Point of Morality, to be obliged by those who endeavour to oblige me
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Vanity makes people ridiculous, pride odious, and ambition terrible.
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Whenever you commend, add your reasons for doing so it is this which distinguishes the approbation of a man of sense from the flattery of sycophants and admiration of fools.
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The praise of an ignorant man is only good-will, and you should receive his kindness as he is a good neighbor in society, and not as a good judge of your actions in point of fame and reputation.
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It has been a sort of maxim, that the greatest art is to conceal art but I know not how, among some people we meet with, their greatest cunning is to appear cunning.
Richard Steele