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There is no one thoroughly despicable. We cannot descend much lower than an idiot and an idiot has some advantages over a wise man.

William Hazlitt

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William Hazlitt
Journalist
Literary Critic
Literary Historian
Painter
Philosopher
Writer
Wm. Haslett
William Carew Hazlitt
Advantage
Wise
Cannot
Descend
Much
Despicable
Men
Advantages
Thoroughly
Lower
Idiot

More quotes by William Hazlitt

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The best part of our lives we pass in counting on what is to come.
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The smallest pain in our little finger gives us more concern than the destruction of millions of our fellow beings.
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Let a man's talents or virtues be what they may, he will only feel satisfaction in his society as he is satisfied in himself.
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Though familiarity may not breed contempt, it takes off the edge of admiration.
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There are few things in which we deceive ourselves more than in the esteem we profess to entertain for our firends. It is little better than a piece of quackery. The truth is, we think of them as we please, that is, as they please or displease us.
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That which anyone has been long learning unwillingly, he unlearns with proportional eagerness and haste.
William Hazlitt
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The truth is, we pamper little griefs into great ones, and bear great ones as well as we can.
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The most learned are often the most narrow minded.
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To display the greatest powers, unless they are applied to great purposes, makes nothing for the character of greatness.
William Hazlitt
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People do not persist in their vices because they are not weary of them, but because they cannot leave them off. It is the nature of vice to leave us no resource but in itself.
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We grow tired of everything but turning others into ridicule, and congratulating ourselves on their defects.
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Death puts an end to rivalship and competition. The dead can boast no advantage over us, nor can we triumph over them.
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By retaliating our sufferings on the heads of those we love, we get rid of a present uneasiness and incur lasting remorse. With the accomplishment of our revenge our fondness returns so that we feel the injury we have done them, even more than they do.
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The essence of poetry is will and passion.
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The dupe of friendship, and the fool of love have I not reason to hate and to despise myself? Indeed I do and chiefly for not having hated and despised the world enough.
William Hazlitt
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Silence is one great art of conversation. He is not a fool who knows when to hold his tongue and a person may gain credit for sense, eloquence, wit, who merely says nothing to lessen the opinion which others have of these qualities in themselves.
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Like a rustic at a fair, we are full of amazement and rapture, and have no thought of going home, or that it will soon be night.
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Our energy is in proportion to the resistance it meets. We attempt nothing great but from a sense of the difficulties we have to encounter, we persevere in nothing great but from a pride in overcoming them.
William Hazlitt
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When you find out a man's ruling passion, beware of crossing him in it.
William Hazlitt
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A gentle word, a kind look, a good-natured smile can work wonders and accomplish miracles.
William Hazlitt