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We can all be good when we have no temptation or provocation to the contrary.

Samuel Richardson

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Samuel Richardson
Age: 73 †
Born: 1687
Born: August 19
Died: 1761
Died: July 4
Novelist
Writer
S. Richardson
Provocation
Temptation
Contrary
Goodness
Good

More quotes by Samuel Richardson

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The English, the plain English, of the politest address of a gentleman to a lady is, I am now, dear Madam, your humble servant: Pray be so good as to let me be your Lord and Master.
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Women are sometimes drawn in to believe against probability by the unwillingness they have to doubt their own merit.
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Marriage is the highest state of friendship. If happy, it lessens our cares by dividing them, at the same time that it doubles our pleasures by mutual participation.
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Parents cannot expect advice to have the same force upon their children as experience has upon themselves.
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The richest princes and the poorest beggars are to have one great and just judge at the last day who will not distinguish betweenthem according to their ranks when in life but according to the neglected opportunities afforded to each. How much greater then, as the opportunities were greater, must be the condemnation of the one than of the other?
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All our pursuits, from childhood to manhood, are only trifles of different sorts and sizes, proportioned to our years and views.
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All human excellence is but comparative — there are persons who excel us, as much as we fancy we excel the meanest.
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There is a good and a bad light in which every thing that befalls us may be taken. If the human mind will busy itself to make theworst of every disagreeable occurrence, it will never want woe.
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Necessity may well be called the mother of invention but calamity is the test of integrity.
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Distresses, however heavy at the time, appear light, and even joyous, to the reflecting mind, when worthily overcome.
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That dangerous but too commonly received notion, that a reformed rake makes the best husband.
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The little words in the Republic of Letters, like the little folks in a nation, are the most useful and significant.
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Good men must be affectionate men.
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For the human mind is seldom at stay: If you do not grow better, you will most undoubtedly grow worse.
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Nothing in human nature is so God-like as the disposition to do good to our fellow-creatures.
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A Stander-by is often a better judge of the game than those that play.
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It is better to be thought perverse than insincere.
Samuel Richardson
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Men know no medium: They will either, spaniel-like, fawn at your feet, or be ready to leap into your lap.
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Honesty is good sense, politeness, amiableness,--all in one.
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The World, thinking itself affronted by superior merit, takes delight to bring it down to its own level.
Samuel Richardson