Richard Steele Quotes

The survivorship of a worthy man in his son is a pleasure scarce inferior to the hopes of the continuance of his own life.

Fire and swords are slow engines of destruction, compared to the tongue of a Gossip.

A little in drink, but at all times your faithful husband.

Readings is to the mind what exercice is to the body.

A man cannot have an idea of perfection in another, which he was never sensible of in himself.

How few there are who are furnished with abilities sufficient to recommend their actions to the admiration of the world, and distinguish themselves from the rest of mankind.

A favor well bestowed is almost as great an honor to him who confers it as to him who receives it.

The world will never be in any manner of order or tranquility until men are firmly convinced that conscience, honor and credit are all in one interest

A lie is troublesome, and sets a man's invention upon the rack, and one trick needs a great many more to make it good.

Whoever would be wise should read the Proverbs; whoever would be holy should read the Psalms.

A Woman is naturally more helpless than the other Sex; and a Man of Honour and Sense should have this in his View in all Manner of Commerce with her.

Age in a virtuous person, of either sex, carries in it an authority which makes it preferable to all the pleasures of youth.

The praise of an ignorant man is only good-will, and you should receive his kindness as he is a good neighbor in society, and not as a good judge of your actions in point of fame and reputation.

A Daughter: The companion, the friend, and the confidant of her mother, and the object of a pleasure something like the love between the angels to her father.

It is the duty of a great person so to demean himself, as that whatever endowments he may have, he may appear to value himself upon no qualities but such as any man may arrive at.

Vanity makes people ridiculous, pride odious, and ambition terrible.

I love to consider an Infidel, whether distinguished by the title of deist, atheist, or free-thinker, by three different lights, in his solitude, his afflictions, and his last moments.... [In these situations such people show themselves] in solitude, incapable or rapture or elevation, ... in distress, [with] a halter or a pistol the only refuge [they] can fly to, ... [and liable to conversion] at the approach of death.

There is no Pleasure like that of receiving Praise from the Praiseworthy

Whether a pretty woman grants or withholds her favors, she always likes to be asked for them.