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Offensive objects, at a proper distance, acquire even a degree of beauty.

William Shenstone

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William Shenstone
Age: 48 †
Born: 1714
Born: November 18
Died: 1763
Died: February 11
Gardener
Horticulturist
Poet
Writer
Even
Offensive
Acquire
Proper
Degree
Degrees
Distance
Objects
Beauty

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The most reserved of men, that will not exchange two syllables together in an English coffee-house, should they meet at Ispahan, would drink sherbet and eat a mess of rice together.
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People can commend the weather without envy.
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Modesty makes large amends for the pain it gives those who labor under it, by the prejudice it affords every worthy person in their favor.
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The eye must be easy, before it can be pleased.
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Zealous men are ever displaying to you the strength of their belief. while judicious men are showing you the grounds of it.
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However, I think a plain space near the eye gives it a kind of liberty it loves and then the picture, whether you choose the grand or beautiful, should be held up at its proper distance. Variety is the principal ingredient in beauty and simplicity is essential to grandeur.
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When self-interest inclines a man to print, he should consider that the purchaser expects a pennyworth for his penny, and has reason to asperse his honesty if he finds himself deceived.
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Misers, as death approaches, are heaping up a chest of reasons to stand in more awe of him.
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The difference there is betwixt honor and honesty seems to be chiefly the motive the mere honest man does that from duty which the man of honor does for the sake of character.
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A large, branching, aged oak is perhaps the most venerable of all inanimate objects.
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Amid the most mercenary ages it is but a secondary sort of admiration that is bestowed upon magnificence.
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Every good poet includes a critic, but the reverse is not true.
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A man of remarkable genius may afford to pass by a piece of wit, if it happen to border on abuse. A little genius is obliged to catch at every witticism indiscriminately.
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Poetry and consumption are the most flattering of diseases.
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It is true there is nothing displays a genius, I mean a quickness of genius, more than a dispute as two diamonds, encountering, contribute to each other's luster. But perhaps the odds is much against the man of taste in this particular.
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To thee, fair Freedom! I retire From flattery, cards, and dice, and din: Nor art thou found in mansions higher Than the low cot, or humble inn.
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Some men are called sagacious, merely on account of their avarice whereas a child can clench its fist the moment it is born.
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Those who are incapable of shining out by dress would do well to consider that the contrast between them and their clothes turns out much to their disadvantage.
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Necessity may be the mother of lucrative invention, but it is the death of poetical invention.
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To one who said, I do not believe that there is an honest man in the world, another replied, It is impossible that any one man should know all the world, but quite possible that one may know himself.
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