Quote

The fear of punishment may be necessary to the suppression of vice but it also suspends the finer motives of virtue.

William Hazlitt

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

William Hazlitt
Journalist
Literary Critic
Literary Historian
Painter
Philosopher
Writer
Wm. Haslett
William Carew Hazlitt
Motives
Also
Vice
May
Motive
Vices
Punishment
Suspends
Necessary
Finer
Virtue
Suppression
Fear

More quotes by William Hazlitt

Image
Persons who undertake to pry into, or cleanse out all the filth of a common sewer, either cannot have very nice noses, or will soon lose them.
William Hazlitt
Image
We are thankful for good-will rather than for services, for the motive than the quantum of favor received.
William Hazlitt
Image
To a superior race of being the pretensions of mankind to extraordinary sanctity and virtue must seem... ridiculous.
William Hazlitt
Image
We are fonder of visiting our friends in health than in sickness. We judge less favorably of their characters when any misfortune happens to them and a lucky hit, either in business or reputation, improves even their personal appearance in our eyes.
William Hazlitt
Image
The most silent people are generally those who think most highly of themselves.
William Hazlitt
Image
In some situations, if you say nothing, you are called dull if you talk, you are thought impertinent and arrogant. It is hard to know what to do in this case. The question seems to be, whether your vanity or your prudence predominates.
William Hazlitt
Image
We never do anything well till we cease to think about the manner of doing it.
William Hazlitt
Image
Those people who are always improving never become great. Greatness is an eminence, the ascent to which is steep and lofty, and which a man must seize on at once by natural boldness and vigor, and not by patient, wary steps.
William Hazlitt
Image
There is something captivating in spirit and intrepidity, to which, we often yield as to a resistless power nor can he reasonably expect, the confidence of others who too apparently distrusts himself.
William Hazlitt
Image
A certain excess of animal spirits with thoughtless good-humor will often make more enemies than the most deliberate spite and ill-nature, which is on its guard, and strikes with caution and safety.
William Hazlitt
Image
The greatest grossness sometimes accompanies the greatest refinement, as a natural relief.
William Hazlitt
Image
The Princess Borghese, Bonaparte's sister, who was no saint, sat to Canova as a reclining Venus, and being asked if she did not feel a little uncomfortable, replied, No. There was a fire in the room.
William Hazlitt
Image
I'm not smart, but I like to observe. Millions saw the apple fall, but Newton was the one who asked why.
William Hazlitt
Image
A gentle word, a kind look, a good-natured smile can work wonders and accomplish miracles.
William Hazlitt
Image
Society is a more level surface than we imagine. Wise men or absolute fools are hard to be met with, as there are few giants or dwarfs.
William Hazlitt
Image
The youth is better than the old age of friendship.
William Hazlitt
Image
Our repugnance to death increases in proportion to our consciousness of having lived in vain.
William Hazlitt
Image
The way to procure insults is to submit to them. A man meets with no more respect than he exacts.
William Hazlitt
Image
Hope is the best possession. None are completely wretched but those who are without hope. Few are reduced so low as that.
William Hazlitt
Image
Good temper is an estate for life.
William Hazlitt