Laurence Sterne quotes - page 2

Laurence Sterne was an Anglo-Irish novelist and clergyman, best known for his work "The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman." His experimental writing style and wit had a significant influence on the development of the modern novel. He is regarded as one of the most innovative literary figures of the eighteenth century. Here are 99 of his quotes:

Shall we be destined to the days of eternity, on holy-days, as well as working-days, to be showing the relics of learning, as monks do the relics of their saints - without working one - one single miracle with them?

Laurence Sterne

When a man is discontented with himself, it has one advantage - that it puts him into an excellent frame of mind for making a bargain.

Laurence Sterne

When the heart flies out before the understanding, it saves the judgment a world of pains.

Laurence Sterne

A large volume of adventures may be grasped within this little span of life, by him who interests his heart in everything.

Laurence Sterne

I am persuaded that every time a man smiles - but much more so when he laughs - it adds something to this fragment of life.

Laurence Sterne

Ho! 'tis the time of salads.

Laurence Sterne

I begin with writing the first sentence-and trusting to Almighty God for the second.

Laurence Sterne

I take a simple view of life. It is keep your eyes open and get on with it.

Laurence Sterne

Sciences may be learned by rote, but wisdom not.

Laurence Sterne

Religion which lays so many restraints upon us, is a troublesome companion to those who will lay no restraints upon themselves.

Laurence Sterne

Of all duties, prayer certainly is the sweetest and most easy.

Laurence Sterne

Tant pis and tant mieux, being two of the great hinges in French conversation, a stranger would do well to set himself right in the use of them before he gets to Paris.

Laurence Sterne

As for the clergy - No - If I say a word against them, I'll be shot. - I have no desire, - and besides, if I had, - I durst not for my soul touch upon the subject, - with such weak nerves and spirits, and in the condition I am in at present, 'twould be as much as my life was worth, to deject and contrist myself with so bad and melancholy an account, - and therefore, 'tis safer to draw a curtain across, and hasten from it, as fast as I can, to the main and principal point I have undertaken to clear up, - and that is, How it comes to pass, that your men of least wit are reported to be men of most judgment.

Laurence Sterne

Persuasion hung upon his lips, and the elements of Logick and Rhetorick were so blended up in him, - and, withall, he had so shrewd guess at the weaknesses and passions of his respondent, - that NATURE might have stood up and said, - "This man is eloquent."

Laurence Sterne

It had ever been the custom of the family, and by length of time was almost become a matter of common right, that the eldest son of it should have free ingress, egress, and regress into foreign parts before marriage, - not only for the sake of bettering his own private parts, by the benefit of exercise and change of so much air - but simply for the mere delectation of his fancy, by the feather put into his cap, of having been abroad.

Laurence Sterne

When issues of events like these my father is waiting for, are hanging in the scales of fate, the mind has the advantage of changing the principle of expectation three times, without which it would not have power to see it out.Curiosity governs the first moment; and the second moment is all economy to justify the expense of the first - and for the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth moments, and so on to the day of judgment - 'tis a point of HONOUR.I need not be told, that the ethic writers have assigned this all to Patience; but that VIRTUE, methinks, has extent of domination sufficient of her own, and enough to do in it, without invading the few dismantled castles which HONOUR has left him upon the earth.

Laurence Sterne

Digressions, incontestably, are the sunshine; -& they are the life, the soul of reading; - take them out of this book for instance, - you might as well take the book along with them.

Laurence Sterne

He was within a few hours of giving his enemies the slip forever.

Laurence Sterne

I have got him fast hung up, quoth Didius to himself, upon one of the two horns of my dilemma - let him get off as he can.

Laurence Sterne

Our armies swore terribly in Flanders,' cried my Uncle Toby, 'but nothing to this.

Laurence Sterne

A man who laughs will never be dangerous.

Laurence Sterne

A man my good Sir, has seldom an offer of kindness to make to a woman, but she has a presentiment of it some moments before.

Laurence Sterne