Domestic happiness is the end of almost all our pursuits, and the common reward of all our pains. When men find themselves forever barred from this delightful fruition, they are lost to all industry, and grow careless of all their worldly affairs. Thus they become bad subjects, bad relations, bad friends, and bad men.
Henry FieldingThe exceptions of the scrupulous put one in mind of some general pardons where everything is forgiven except crimes.
Henry FieldingA newspaper consists of just the same number of words, whether there be any news in it or not.
Henry FieldingHabit hath so vast a prevalence over the human mind that there is scarce anything too strange or too strong to be asserted of it. The story of the miser who, from long accustoming to cheat others, came at last to cheat himself, and with great delight and triumph picked his own pocket of a guinea to convey to his hoard, is not impossible or improbable.
Henry FieldingThere is not in the universe a more ridiculous, nor a more contemptible animal, than a proud clergyman.
Henry FieldingContempt of others is the truest symptom of a base and bad heart,--while it suggests itself to the mean and the vile, and tickles there little fancy on every occasion, it never enters the great and good mind but on the strongest motives; nor is it then a welcome guest,--affording only an uneasy sensation, and bringing always with it a mixture of concern and compassion.
Henry Fielding