Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 3rd Earl of Shaftesbury quotes

Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 3rd Earl of Shaftesbury, was a prominent English philosopher and writer during the Enlightenment. His works greatly influenced the development of moral philosophy and aesthetics. He is remembered for his advocacy of reason, virtue, and religious tolerance. Here are 17 of his quotes:

Gravity is of the very Essence of Imposture. It does not only make us mistake other Things, but is apt perpetually almost to mistake it-self. (Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 3rd Earl of Shaftesbury)
Never did any Soul do good, but it came readier to do the same again, with more Enjoyment. Never was Love, or Gratitude, or Bounty practis'd but with increasing Joy, which made the Practiser still more in love with the fair Act. View quote
Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 3rd Earl of Shaftesbury
Tis not Wit merely, but a Temper which must form the Well-Bred Man. In the same manner, 'tis not a Head merely, but a Heart and Resolution which must compleat the real Philosopher. View quote
Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 3rd Earl of Shaftesbury
The most natural Beauty in the World is Honesty, and Moral Truth. For all Beauty is Truth. True Features make the Beauty of a Face; and true Proportions the Beauty of Architecture; as true Measures that of Harmony and Musick. View quote
Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 3rd Earl of Shaftesbury
True courage...has so little to do with Anger, that there lies always the strongest Suspicion against it, where this Passion is highest. The true Courage is the cool and calm. The bravest of Men have the least of a brutal bullying Insolence; and in the very time of Danger are found the most serene, pleasant, and free. Rage, we know, can make a Coward forget himself and fight. But what is done in Fury, or Anger, can never be plac'd to the account of Courage. View quote
Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 3rd Earl of Shaftesbury
Tis the hardest thing in the world to be a good Thinker, without being a strong Self-Examiner. View quote
Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 3rd Earl of Shaftesbury
A Right Mind, and Generous Affection, [has] more Beauty and Charm, than all other Symmetrys in the World besides. View quote
Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 3rd Earl of Shaftesbury
We may have an excellent Ear in Musick, without being able to perform in any kind. We may judg well of Poetry, without being Poets, or possessing the least of a Poetick Vein: But we can have no tolerable Notion of Goodness, without being tolerably good. View quote
Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 3rd Earl of Shaftesbury
How comes it to pass then, that we appear such Cowards in reasoning, and are so afraid to stand the Test of Ridicule? View quote
Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 3rd Earl of Shaftesbury
Truth is the most powerful thing in the world, since even fiction itself must be governed by it, and can only please by its resemblance. View quote
Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 3rd Earl of Shaftesbury
Truly ... as accidental as my Life may be, or as that random Humour is, which governs it; I know nothing, after all, so real or substantial as My-Self. Therefore if there be that Thing you call a Substance, I take for granted I am one. But for anything further relating to this Question, you know my Sceptick Principles: I determine neither way. (Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 3rd Earl of Shaftesbury)
All Politeness is owing to Liberty. We polish one another, and rub off our Corners and rough Sides by a sort of amicable Collision. To restrain this, is inevitably to bring a Rust upon Mens Understandings. View quote
Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 3rd Earl of Shaftesbury
The Taste of Beauty, and the Relish of what is decent, just, and amiable, perfects the Character of the Gentleman, and the Philosopher. And the Study of such a Taste or Relish will, as we suppose, be ever the great Employment and Concern of him, who covets as well to be wise and good, as agreeable and polite. View quote
Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 3rd Earl of Shaftesbury
Through certain humors or passions, and from temper merely, a man may be completely miserable, let his outward circumstances be ever so fortunate. View quote
Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 3rd Earl of Shaftesbury
'Twas the saying of [Georgias Leontinus apud Arist. Rhetor. lib. 3. cap. 18... which the Translator renders, Seria Risu, Risum Seriis discutere] an ancient sage that humour was the only test of gravity, and gravity of humour. For a subject which would not bear raillery was suspicious; and a jest which would not bear a serious examination was certainly false wit. View quote
Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 3rd Earl of Shaftesbury
Truth, 'tis suppos'd, may bear all Lights: and one of those principal Lights or natural Mediums, by which Things are to be view'd, in order to a thorow Recognition, is Ridicule it-self, or that Manner of Proof by which we discern whatever is liable to just Raillery in any Subject. View quote
Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 3rd Earl of Shaftesbury
Not to be confused with his grandfather, Anthony Ashley Cooper, 1st Earl of Shaftesbury. View quote
Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 3rd Earl of Shaftesbury