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I know of no manner of speaking so offensive as that of giving praise, and closing it with an exception.

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
Exception
Manner
Speaking
Praise
Giving
Closing
Offensive

More quotes by Richard Steele

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A favor well bestowed is almost as great an honor to him who confers it as to him who receives it.
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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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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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Fire and swords are slow engines of destruction, compared to the tongue of a Gossip.
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I love to consider an Infidel, whether distinguished by the title of deist, atheist, or free-thinker.
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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.
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It is a very melancholy reflection that men are usually so weak that it is absolutely necessary for them to know sorrow and pain to be in their right senses.
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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.
Richard Steele
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It may be remarked in general, that the laugh of men of wit is for the most part but a feint, constrained kind of half-laugh, as such persons are never without some diffidence about them but that of fools is the most honest, natural, open laugh in the world.
Richard Steele
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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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Age in a virtuous person, of either sex, carries in it an authority which makes it preferable to all the pleasures of youth.
Richard Steele
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The insupportable labor of doing nothing.
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Vanity makes people ridiculous, pride odious, and ambition terrible.
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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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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.
Richard Steele
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He that has sense knows that learning is not knowledge, but rather the art of using it.
Richard Steele
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Simplicity of all things is the hardest to be copy.
Richard Steele
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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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Though very troublesome to others, anger is most so to him that has it.
Richard Steele
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Many take pleasure in spreading abroad the weakness of an exalted character.
Richard Steele