Quote

A lively blockhead in company is a public benefit. Silence or dulness by the side of folly looks like wisdom.

William Hazlitt

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William Hazlitt
Journalist
Literary Critic
Literary Historian
Painter
Philosopher
Writer
Wm. Haslett
William Carew Hazlitt
Company
Folly
Looks
Benefit
Like
Benefits
Silence
Dulness
Side
Sides
Blockhead
Public
Blockheads
Wisdom
Lively

More quotes by William Hazlitt

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We had rather do anything than acknowledge the merit of another if we can help it. We cannot bear a superior or an equal. Hence ridicule is sure to prevail over truth, for the malice of mankind, thrown into the scale, gives the casting weight.
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There are some persons who never succeed from being too indolent to undertake anything and others who regularly fail, because the instant they find success in their power, they grow indifferent, and give over the attempt.
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Those who speak ill of the spiritual life, although they come and go by day, are like the smith's bellows: they take breath but are not alive.
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Learning is its own exceeding great reward.
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He who draws upon his own resources easily comes to an end of his wealth.
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Books are a world in themselves, it is true but they are not the only world. The world itself is a volume larger than all the libraries in it.
William Hazlitt
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A man who does not endeavour to seem more than he is will generally be thought nothing of. We habitually make such large deductions for pretence and imposture that no real merit will stand against them. It is necessary to set off our good qualities with a certain air of plausibility and self-importance, as some attention to fashion is necessary.
William Hazlitt
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First impressions are often the truest, as we find (not unfrequently) to our cost when we have been wheedled out of them by plausible professions or actions. A man's look is the work of years, it is stamped on his countenance by the events of his whole life, nay, more, by the hand of nature, and it is not to be got rid of easily.
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Our opinions are not our own, but in the power of sympathy. If a person tells us a palpable falsehood, we not only dare not contradict him, but we dare hardly disbelieve him to his face. A lie boldly uttered has the effect of truth for the instant.
William Hazlitt
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To expect an author to talk as he writes is ridiculous or even if he did you would find fault with him as a pedant.
William Hazlitt
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A distinction has been made between acuteness and subtlety of understanding. This might be illustrated by saying that acuteness consists in taking up the points or solid atoms, subtlety in feeling the air of truth.
William Hazlitt
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Everything is in motion. Everything flows. Everything is vibrating.
William Hazlitt
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A great mind is one that can forget or look beyond itself.
William Hazlitt
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Charity, like nature, abhors a vacuum. Next to putting it in a bank, men like to squander their superfluous wealth on those to whom it is sure to be doing the least possible good.
William Hazlitt
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Fashion is gentility running away from vulgarity and afraid of being overtaken
William Hazlitt
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Those are ever the most ready to do justice to others, who feel that the world has done them justice.
William Hazlitt
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No man can thoroughly master more than one art or science.
William Hazlitt
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A situation in a public office is secure, but laborious and mechanical, and without the great springs of life, hope and fear.
William Hazlitt
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We never do anything well till we cease to think about the manner of doing it.
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The wretched are in this respect fortunate, that they have the strongest yearning after happiness and to desire is in some sense to enjoy.
William Hazlitt