Henry Fielding Quotes

A newspaper consists of just the same number of words, whether there be any news in it or not.

For I hope my Friends will pardon me, when I declare, I know none of them without a Fault; and I should be sorry if I could imagine, I had any Friend who could not see mine. Forgiveness, of this Kind, we give and demand in Turn.

Want compassion is not to be numbered among the general faults of mankind. The black ingredient which fouls our disposition is envy. Hence our eyes, it is to be feared, are seldom turned up to those who are manifestly greater, better, wiser, or happier than ourselves, without some degree of malignity, we commonly look downward on the mean and miserable with sufficient benevolence and pity.

Can any man have a higher notion of the rule of right and the eternal fitness of things?

Beauty may be the object of liking--great qualities of admiration--good ones of esteem--but love only is the object of love.

It is an error common to many to take the character of mankind from the worst and basest amongst them; whereas, as an excellent writer has observed, nothing should be esteemed as characteristical, of a species but what is to be found amongst the best and the most perfect individuals of that species.

Fashion is the science of appearance, and it inspires one with the desire to seem rather than to be.

Setting down in writing, is a lasting memory.

Riches without charity are nothing worth. They are a blessing only to him who makes them a blessing to others.

I am content; that is a blessing greater than riches; and he to whom that is given need ask no more.

The hounds all join in glorious cry, / The huntsman winds his horn: / And a-hunting we will go.

A man may go to heaven with half the pains it cost him to purchase hell.

Good-humor will even go so far as often to supply the lack of wit.

Distance of Time and Place do really cure what they seem to aggravate; and taking Leave of our Friends resembles taking Leave of the World, concerning which it hath been often said, that it is not Death but Dying which is terrible.

Human life very much resembles a game of chess: for, as in the latter, while a gamester is too attentive to secure himself very strongly on one side of the board, he is apt to leave an unguarded opening on the other, so doth it often happen in life.

Lo, when two dogs are fighting in the streets, With a third dog one of the two dogs meets; With angry teeth he bites him to the bone, And this dog smarts for what that dog has done.

Wine is a turncoat; first a friend and then an enemy.

It hath been often said, that it is not death, but dying, which is terrible.

Thirst teaches all animals to drink, but drunkenness belongs only to man.