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In a well-written book we are presented with the maturest reflections, or the happiest flights of a mind of uncommon excellence. It is impossible that we can be much accustomed to such companions without attaining some resemblance to them.

William Godwin

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William Godwin
Age: 80 †
Born: 1756
Born: March 3
Died: 1836
Died: April 7
Journalist
Novelist
Philosopher
Political Philosopher
Science Fiction Writer
Writer
Wisbech
Cambridgeshire
Impossible
Uncommon
Written
Happiest
Wells
Presented
Book
Accustomed
Flights
Without
Companion
Attaining
Well
Excellence
Reflections
Much
Flight
Resemblance
Mind
Reflection
Companions

More quotes by William Godwin

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Study with desire is real activity without desire it is but the semblance and mockery of activity.
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Duty is that mode of action on the part of the individual which constitutes the best possible application of his capacity to the general benefit.
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The philosophy of the wisest man that ever existed, is mainly derived from the act of introspection.
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What can be more clear and sound in explanation, than the love of a parent to his child?
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The execution of any thing considerable implies in the first place previous persevering meditation.
William Godwin
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Everything that is usually understood by the term co-operation is, in some degree, an evil.
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The wise man is satisfied with nothing.
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Let us not, in the eagerness of our haste to educate, forget all the ends of education.
William Godwin
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If he who employs coercion against me could mould me to his purposes by argument, no doubt he would. He pretends to punish me because his argument is strong but he really punishes me because his argument is weak.
William Godwin
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In cases where every thing is understood, and measured, and reduced to rule, love is out of the question.
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If admiration were not generally deemed the exclusive property of the rich, and contempt the constant lackey of poverty, the love of gain would cease to be an universal problem.
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There can be no passion, and by consequence no love, where there is not imagination.
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It is absurd to expect the inclinations and wishes of two human beings to coincide, through any long period of time. To oblige them to act and live together is to subject them to some inevitable potion of thwarting, bickering, and unhappiness.
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Learning is the ally, not the adversary of genius... he who reads in a proper spirit, can scarcely read too much.
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Literature, taken in all its bearings, forms the grand line of demarcation between the human and the animal kingdoms.
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A celebrated north country apostle, who, after Calvin had damned ninety-nine in a hundred of mankind, had contrived a scheme for damning ninety-nine in a hundred of the followers of Calvin.
William Godwin
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Perseverance is an active principle, and cannot continue to operate but under the influence of desire.
William Godwin
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He that loves reading has everything within his reach.
William Godwin
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Whenever government assumes to deliver us from the trouble of thinking for ourselves, the only consequences it produces are those of torpor and imbecility.
William Godwin
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The diligent scholar is he that loves himself, and desires to have reason to applaud and love himself.
William Godwin