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Every desire bears its death in its very gratification. Curiosity languishes under repeated stimulants, and novelties cease to excite and surprise, until at length we cannot wonder even at a miracle.
Washington Irving
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Washington Irving
Age: 76 †
Born: 1783
Born: April 3
Died: 1859
Died: November 28
Author
Biographer
Diplomat
Essayist
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Journalist
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New York City
New York
Diedrich Knickerbocker
Geoffrey Crayon
Lauuncelot Langstaff
Miracle
Excite
Bears
Repeated
Wonder
Novelty
Desire
Gratification
Death
Length
Languishes
Cannot
Curiosity
Novelties
Even
Cease
Languish
Every
Surprise
Stimulants
More quotes by Washington Irving
Sometimes he spent hours together in the great libraries of Paris, those catacombs of departed authors, rummaging among their hoards of dusty and obsolete works in quest of food for his unhealthy appetite. He was, in a manner, a literary ghoul, feeding in the charnel-house of decayed literature.
Washington Irving
It was Shakespeare's notion that on this day birds begin to couple hence probably arose the custom of sending fancy love-billets.
Washington Irving
Every antique farm-house and moss-grown cottage is a picture.
Washington Irving
The oil and wine of merry meeting.
Washington Irving
A kind heart is a fountain of gladness, making everything in its vicinity freshen into smiles.
Washington Irving
There is never jealousy where there is not strong regard.
Washington Irving
Great minds have purposes others have wishes.
Washington Irving
There are certain half-dreaming moods of mind in which we naturally steal away from noise and glare, and seek some quiet haunt where we may indulge our reveries and build our air castles undisturbed.
Washington Irving
It is not poverty so much as pretense that harasses a ruined man - the struggle between a proud mind and an empty purse - the keeping up of a hollow show that must soon come to an end.
Washington Irving
He who wins a thousand common hearts is entitled to some renown but he who keeps undisputed sway over the heart of a coquette is indeed a hero.
Washington Irving
A woman's whole life is a history of the affections.
Washington Irving
Love is never lost. If not reciprocated, it will flow back and soften and purify the heart.
Washington Irving
Rising genius always shoots forth its rays from among clouds and vapours, but these will gradually roll away and disappear, as it ascends to its steady and meridian lustre.
Washington Irving
To look upon its grass grown yard, where the sunbeams seem to sleep so quietly, one would think that there at least the dead might rest in peace.
Washington Irving
Of all the old festivals, however, that of Christmas awakens the strongest and most heartfelt associations. There is a tone of solemn and sacred feeling that blends with our conviviality, and lifts the sprit to a state of hallowed and elevated enjoyment.
Washington Irving
Poetry is evidently a contagious complaint.
Washington Irving
The moan of the whip-poor-will from the hillside the boding cry of the tree-toad, that harbinger of storm the dreary hooting of the screechowl.
Washington Irving
Those who are well assured of their own standing are least apt to trespass on that of others, whereas nothing is so offensive as the aspirings of vulgarity which thinks to elevate itself by humiliating its neighbor.
Washington Irving
The sorrow for the dead is the only sorrow from which we refuse to be divorced. Every other wound we seek to heal - every other affliction to forget: but this wound we consider it a duty to keep open - this affliction we cherish and brood over in solitude.
Washington Irving
I profess not to know how women's hearts are wooed and won. To me they have always been matters of riddle and admiration.
Washington Irving