Charles Churchill (satirist) quotes

Charles Churchill was an English poet and satirist famous for his biting criticism of contemporary society. His sharply written works targeted public figures and institutions of his time. He became a leading voice in 18th-century literary satire and influenced many later writers. Here are 28 of his quotes:

A joke's a very serious thing. (Charles Churchill (satirist))
Be England what she will, With all her faults she is my country still. View quote
Charles Churchill (satirist)
The best things carried to excess are wrong. View quote
Charles Churchill (satirist)
Genius is of no country. View quote
Charles Churchill (satirist)
Keep up appearances; there lies the test. The world will give thee credit for the rest. View quote
Charles Churchill (satirist)
Men the most infamous are fond of fame, And those who fear not guilt yet start at shame. View quote
Charles Churchill (satirist)
Little do such men know the toil, the pains, the daily, nightly racking of the brains, to range the thoughts, the matter to digest, to cull fit phrases, and reject the rest. View quote
Charles Churchill (satirist)
Patience is sorrow's salve. View quote
Charles Churchill (satirist)
Amongst the sons of men how few are known Who dare be just to merit not their own. View quote
Charles Churchill (satirist)
Wherever waves can roll, and winds can blow. View quote
Charles Churchill (satirist)
He mouths a sentence as curs mouth a bone. (Charles Churchill (satirist))
Who to patch up his fame, or fill his purse, Still pilfers wretched plans, and makes them worse; Like gypsies, lest the stolen brat be known, Defacing first, then claiming for his own. View quote
Charles Churchill (satirist)
With curious art the brain, too finely wrought, Preys on herself, and is destroyed by thought. View quote
Charles Churchill (satirist)
Though by whim, envy, or resentment led, they damn those authors whom they never read. View quote
Charles Churchill (satirist)
Those who would make us feel must feel themselves. View quote
Charles Churchill (satirist)
It can't be Nature, for it is not sense. View quote
Charles Churchill (satirist)
To copy beauty forfeits all pretense to fame; to copy faults is want of sense. View quote
Charles Churchill (satirist)
Genius is independent of situation. View quote
Charles Churchill (satirist)
Within the brain's most secret cells, A certain lord chief justice dwells, Of sov'reign power, whom one and all, With common voice we reason call. View quote
Charles Churchill (satirist)
Great use they have, when in the hands Of one like me, who understands, Who understands the time and place, The person, manner, and the grace, Which fools neglect; so that we find, If all the requisites are join'd, From whence a perfect joke must spring, A joke's a very serious thing. View quote
Charles Churchill (satirist)
The danger chiefly lies in acting well; no crime's so great as daring to excel. (Charles Churchill (satirist))
But, spite of all the criticising elves, Those who would make us feel-must feel themselves. View quote
Charles Churchill (satirist)
No statesman e'er will find it worth his pains To tax our labours and excise our brains. View quote
Charles Churchill (satirist)
Apt alliteration's artful aid. View quote
Charles Churchill (satirist)
There webs were spread of more than common size, And half-starved spiders prey'd on half-starved flies. View quote
Charles Churchill (satirist)