The lowest boor may laugh on being tickled, but a man must have intelligence to be amused by wit.
Roger L'EstrangeThere are braying men in the world, as well as braying asses; for what is loud and senseless talking any other than away of braying?
Roger L'EstrangeNothing is so fierce but love will soften; nothing so sharp-sighted in other matters but it will throw a mist before its eyes.
Roger L'EstrangeIt is one of the vexatious mortifications of a studious man to have his thoughts disordered by a tedious visit.
Roger L'EstrangeThe common people do not judge of vice or virtue by morality or immorality, so much as by the stamp that is set upon it by men of figure.
Roger L'EstrangeThe very soul of the slothful does effectually but lie drowsing in his body, and the whole man is totally given up to his senses.
Roger L'EstrangeHe that upon a true principle lives, without any disquiet of thought, may be said to be happy.
Roger L'EstrangeTis not necessity, but opinion, that makes men miserable; and when we come to be fancy-sick, there's no cure.
Roger L'EstrangeThe blessings of fortune are the lowest; the next are the bodily advantages of strength and health; but the superlative blessings, in fine, are those of the mind.
Roger L'EstrangeIt is not the place, nor the condition, but the mind alone that can make anyone happy or miserable.
Roger L'EstrangeUnruly ambition is deaf, not only to the advice of friends, but to the counsels and monitions of reason itself.
Roger L'EstrangeIntemperate wits will spare neither friend nor foe, and make themselves the common enemies of mankind.
Roger L'EstrangeThe fairest blossoms of pleasantry thrive best where the sun is not strong enough to scorch, nor the soil rank enough to corrupt.
Roger L'EstrangeWe never think of the main business of life till a vain repentance minds us of it at the wrong end.
Roger L'EstrangeIt is not the place, nor the condition, but the mind alone what it compares its situation to that can make anyone happy or miserable. Compare it to something better - result envy, frustration and sadness. Compare it to something worse - relief, gratitude and happiness.
Roger L'EstrangeHe that would live clear of envy must lay his finger on his mouth, and keep his hand out of the ink-pot.
Roger L'EstrangeResolve to see the world on the sunny side and you have almost won the battle at the outset.
Roger L'EstrangeA plodding diligence brings us sooner to our journey's end than a fluttering way of advancing by starts.
Roger L'EstrangeFigure-flingers and star-gazers pretend to foretell the fortunes of kingdoms, and have no foresight in what concerns themselves.
Roger L'EstrangeA body may well lay too little as too much stress upon a dream; but the less he heed them the better.
Roger L'EstrangeThere is not one grain in the universe, either too much or too little, nothing to be added, nothing to be spared; nor so much as any one particle of it, that mankind may not be either the better or the worse for, according as it is applied.
Roger L'EstrangePassions, as fire and water, are good servants, but bad masters, and subminister to the best and worst purposes.
Roger L'EstrangeIf we should cease to be generous and charitable because another is sordid and ungrateful, it would be much in the power of vice to extinguish Christian virtues.
Roger L'EstrangeMen are not to be judged by their looks, habits, and appearances; but by the character of their lives and conversations, and by their works.
Roger L'EstrangeRiches are gotten with pain, kept with care, and lost with grief. The cares of riches lie heavier upon a good man than the inconveniences of an honest poverty.
Roger L'EstrangeWhat signifies the sound of words in prayer without the affection of the heart, and a sedulous application of the proper means that may naturally lead us to such an end?
Roger L'EstrangeMen talk as if they believed in God, but they live as if they thought there was none; their vows and promises are no more than words, of course.
Roger L'EstrangeWhat man in his right senses, that has wherewithal to live free, would make himself a slave for superfluities? What does that man want who has enough? Or what is he the better for abundance that can never be satisfied.
Roger L'EstrangeSo long as we stand in need of a benefit, there is nothing dearer to us; nor anything cheaper when we have received it.
Roger L'EstrangeHumor is the offspring of man; it comes forth like Minerva, fully armed from the brain.
Roger L'EstrangeImperfections would not be half so much taken notice of, if vanity did not make proclamation of them.
Roger L'EstrangePretences go a great way with men that take fair words and magisterial looks for current payment.
Roger L'EstrangeTo be longing for this thing to-day and for that thing to-morrow; to change likings for loathings, and to stand wishing and hankering at a venture--how is it possible for any man to be at rest in this fluctuant, wandering humor and opinion?
Roger L'EstrangeHe that contemns a shrew to the degree of not descending to words with her does worse than beat her.
Roger L'EstrangeWickedness may prosper for awhile, but in the long run, he that sets all the knaves at work will pay them.
Roger L'EstrangeSome read books only with a view to find fault, while others read only to be taught; the former are like venomous spiders, extracting a poisonous quality, where the latter, like the bees, sip out a sweet and profitable juice.
Roger L'Estrange