Quote

Humour is the making others act or talk absurdly and unconsciously wit is the pointing out and ridiculing that absurdity consciously, and with more or less ill-nature.

William Hazlitt

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William Hazlitt
Journalist
Literary Critic
Literary Historian
Painter
Philosopher
Writer
Wm. Haslett
William Carew Hazlitt
Less
Unconsciously
Funny
Consciously
Making
Absurdity
Others
Pointing
Nature
Humour
Wit
Ill
Ridiculing
Talk
Absurdly

More quotes by William Hazlitt

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Most of the methods for measuring the lapse of time have, I believe, been the contrivance of monks and religious recluses, who, finding time hang heavy on their hands, were at some pains to see how they got rid of it.
William Hazlitt
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Within my heart is lurking suspicion, and base fear, and shame and hate but above all, tyrannous love sits throned, crowned with her graces, silent and in tears.
William Hazlitt
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A scholar is like a book written in a dead language. It is not every one that can read in it.
William Hazlitt
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Avarice is the miser's dream, as fame is the poet's.
William Hazlitt
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There is some virtue in almost every vice, except hypocrisy and even that, while it is a mockery of virtue, is at the same time a compliment to it.
William Hazlitt
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Wrong dressed out in pride, pomp, and circumstance has more attraction than abstract right.
William Hazlitt
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The most insignificant people are the most apt to sneer at others. They are safe from reprisals. And have no hope of rising in their own self esteem but by lowering their neighbors.
William Hazlitt
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The mind revolts against certain opinions, as the stomach rejects certain foods.
William Hazlitt
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Malice often takes the garb of truth.
William Hazlitt
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People do not seem to talk for the sake of expressing their opinions, but to maintain an opinion for the sake of talking.
William Hazlitt
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Cowardice is not synonymous with prudence. It often happens that the better part of discretion is valor.
William Hazlitt
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The Irish are hearty, the Scotch plausible, the French polite, the Germans good-natured, the Italians courtly, the Spaniards reserved and decorous - the English alone seem to exist in taking and giving offense.
William Hazlitt
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Believe all the good you can of everyone. Do not measure others by yourself. If they have advantages which you have not, let your liberality keep pace with their good fortune. Envy no one, and you need envy no one.
William Hazlitt
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Wherever the Government does not emanate...from the people, the principle of the Government, the esprit de corps, the point of honour, in all those connected with it, and raised by it to privileges above the law and above humanity, will be hatred to the people.
William Hazlitt
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There are names written in her immortal scroll at which Fame blushes!
William Hazlitt
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Familiarity confounds all traits of distinction interest and prejudice take away the power of judging.
William Hazlitt
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True friendship is self-love at second hand where, as in a flattering mirror we may see our virtues magnified and our errors softened, and where we may fancy our opinion of ourselves confirmed by an impartial and faithful witness.
William Hazlitt
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Pride goes before a fall, they say, And yet we often find, The folks who throw all pride away Most often fall behind.
William Hazlitt
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When one can do better than everyone else in the same walk, one does not make any very painful exertions to outdo oneself. The progress of improvement ceases nearly at the point where competition ends.
William Hazlitt
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A great mind is one that can forget or look beyond itself.
William Hazlitt