Laurence Sterne quotes - page 4

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:

Only the brave know how to forgive; it is the most refined and generous pitch of virtue human nature can arrive at.

Laurence Sterne

Go poor Devil, get thee gone, why should I hurt thee?

Laurence Sterne

My father was as proud of his eloquence as MARCUS TULLIUS CICERO could be for his life, and and for aught I am convinced of to the contrary at present, with as much reason: it was indeed his strength - and his weakness, too. - His strength - for he was by nature eloquent - and his weakness - for he was hourly a dupe to it; and provided an occasion in life would but permit him to shew his talents, or say either a wise thing, a witty, or a shrewd one - (bating the case of a systematic misfortune)- he had all he wanted.- A blessing which tied up my father's tongue, and a misfortune which let it loose with a good grace, were pretty equal: sometimes, indeed, the misfortune was the better of the two; for instance, where the pleasure of the harangue was as ten, and the pain of the misfortune was as five.

Laurence Sterne

I am positive I have a soul; nor can all the books with which materialists have pester'd the world ever convince me to the contrary.

Laurence Sterne

Solitude is the best nurse of wisdom.

Laurence Sterne

Positiveness is a most absurd foible. If you are in the right, it lessens your triumph if in the wrong, it adds shame to your defeat.

Laurence Sterne

We lose the right of complaining sometimes, by denying something, but this often triples its force.

Laurence Sterne

A man who values a good night's rest will not lie down with enmity in his heart, if he can help it.

Laurence Sterne

Learning is the dictionary, but sense the grammar of science.

Laurence Sterne

I have undertaken, you see, to write not only my life, but my opinions also; hoping and expecting that your knowledge of my character, and of what kind of a mortal I am, by the one, would give you a better relish for the other: As you proceed further with me, the slight acquaintance which is now beginning betwixt us, will grow into familiarity; and that, unless one of us is in fault, will terminate in friendship.

Laurence Sterne

There are worse occupations in this world than feeling a woman's pulse.

Laurence Sterne

When ever a person talks loudly against religion, always suspect that it is not their reason, but their passions, which have got the better of their beliefs. A bad life and a good belief are disagreeable and troublesome neighbors and when they separate, depend on it that it is for the sake of peace and quiet.

Laurence Sterne

All womankind, from the highest to the lowest love jokes the difficulty is to know how they choose to have them cut and there is no knowing that, but by trying, as we do with our artillery in the field, by raising or letting down their breeches, till we h.

Laurence Sterne

If death, said my father, reasoning with himself, is nothing but the separation of the soul from the body;--and if it is true that people can walk about and do their business without brains,--then certes the soul does not inhabit there.

Laurence Sterne

Disguise thyself as thou wilt, still, Slavery,' said I, 'still thou art a bitter draught.

Laurence Sterne

There are a thousand unnoticed openings, continued my father, which let a penetrating eye at once into a man's soul; and I maintain it, added he, that a man of sense does not lay down his hat in coming into a room, -- or take it up in going out of it, but something escapes, which discovers him.

Laurence Sterne

Heat is in proportion to the want of true knowledge.

Laurence Sterne

'Tis no extravagant arithmetic to say, that for every ten jokes, thou hast got an hundred enemies and till thou hast gone on, and raised a swarm of wasps about thine ears, and art half stung to death by them, thou wilt never be convinced it is so.

Laurence Sterne

The heart, in spite of the understanding, will always say too much.

Laurence Sterne

Man is false to himself and betrays his own succours ten times where nature does it once.

Laurence Sterne

Friendship is the balm and cordial of life, and without it, 'tis a heavy load not worth sustaining.

Laurence Sterne