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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

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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
Meet
Among
Greatest
Sort
Maxim
Art
Conceal
People
Maxims
Cunning
Appear

More quotes by Richard Steele

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No woman is capable of being beautiful who is not incapable of being false.
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It is the duty of a great person so to demean himself, as that whatever endowments he may have, he may appear to value himself upon no qualities but such as any man may arrive at.
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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.
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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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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.
Richard Steele
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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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Fire and swords are slow engines of destruction, compared to the tongue of a Gossip.
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I cannot think of any character below the flatterer, except he who envies him
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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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Though very troublesome to others, anger is most so to him that has it.
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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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I look upon it as a Point of Morality, to be obliged by those who endeavour to oblige me
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There can hardly, I believe, be imagined a more desirable pleasure than that of praise unmixed with any possibility of flattery.
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Many take pleasure in spreading abroad the weakness of an exalted character.
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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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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.
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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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Though her mien carries much more invitation than command, to behold her is an immediate check to loose behaviour to love her was a liberal education.
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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.
Richard Steele
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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.
Richard Steele