Laurence Sterne Quotes

Heat is in proportion to the want of true knowledge.

Only the brave know how to forgive... a coward never forgave; it is not in his nature.

Our passion and principals are constantly in a frenzy, but begin to shift and waver, as we return to reason.

Pain and pleasure, like light and darkness, succeed each other.

People who are always taking care of their health are like misers, who are hoarding a treasure which they have never spirit enough to enjoy.

People who overly take care of their health are like misers. They hoard up a treasure which they never enjoy.

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

Respect for ourselves guides our morals, respect for others guides our manners.

Sciences may be learned by rote, but wisdom not.

So much of motion, is so much of life, and so much of joy, and to stand still, or get on but slowly, is death and the devil.

The desire of knowledge, like the thirst of riches, increases ever with the acquisition of it.

The most accomplished way of using books is to serve them as some people do lords; learn their titles and then brag of their acquaintance.

There have been no sects in the Christian world, however absurd, which have not endeavoured to support their opinions by arguments drawn from Scripture.

Titles of honor are like the impressions on coins, which add no value to gold or silver, but only render brass current.

What is the life of man! Is it not to shift from side to side? From sorrow to sorrow? To button up one cause of vexation! And unbutton another!

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.

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

Writing, when properly managed, (as you may be sure I think mine is) is but a different name for conversation.

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

I write the first sentence and trust in God for the next.

You can always tell a real friend; when you've made a fool of yourself, he doesn't feel you've done a permanent job.

For every ten jokes, thou hast got a hundred enemies.

The desire of knowledge, like the thirst for riches, increases ever with the acquisition of it.

So long as a man rides his Hobby-Horse peaceably and quietly along the King's highway, and neither compels you or me to get up behind him -- pray, Sir, what have either you or I to do with it?

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