Joseph Addison quotes

Joseph Addison was a highly esteemed English essayist, poet, playwright, and politician of the 18th century. Born on May 1, 1672, he possessed unmatched literary prowess and quickly rose to prominence during the Augustan Age. Addison's works, filled with wit, satire, and wisdom, continue to inspire readers to this day. Known for co-founding The Spectator, a renowned periodical, Addison played a crucial role in shaping the British literary landscape. His insightful observations on society, morality, and politics remain relevant even in the contemporary world. With a strong focus on education and a deep understanding of human nature, Addison's popularity endures as his writings cater to a myriad of interests, ensuring he remains an influential figure. Immerse yourself in the timeless works of Joseph Addison to experience his brilliance firsthand.

The utmost extent of man's knowledge, is to know that he knows nothing.

- Joseph Addison

Admiration is a very short-lived passion, that immediately decays upon growing familiar with its object.

- Joseph Addison

Their is no defense against criticism except obscurity.

- Joseph Addison

A woman seldom asks advice before she has bought her wedding clothes.

- Joseph Addison

Nothing is more gratifying to the mind of man than power or dominion.

- Joseph Addison

A contented mind is the greatest blessing a man can enjoy in this world.

- Joseph Addison

Modesty is not only an ornament, but also a guard to virtue.

- Joseph Addison

The Mind that lies fallow but a single Day, sprouts up in Follies that are only to be killed by a constant and assiduous Culture.

- Joseph Addison

Talking with a friend is nothing else but thinking aloud.

- Joseph Addison

Men may change their climate, but they cannot change their nature. A man that goes out a fool cannot ride or sail himself into common sense.

- Joseph Addison

Sunday clears away the rust of the whole week.

- Joseph Addison

Better to die ten thousand deaths than wound my honor.

- Joseph Addison

Justice is an unassailable fortress, built on the brow of a mountain which cannot be overthrown by the violence of torrents, nor demolished by the force of armies.

- Joseph Addison

There is nothing that makes its way more directly into the soul than beauty.

- Joseph Addison

I value my garden more for being full of blackbirds than of cherries, and very frankly give them fruit for their songs.

- Joseph Addison

The unjustifiable severity of a parent is loaded with this aggravation, that those whom he injures are always in his sight.

- Joseph Addison

We are always doing something for posterity, but I would fain see posterity do something for us.

- Joseph Addison

There is nothing which we receive with so much reluctance as advice.

- Joseph Addison

A true critic ought to dwell upon excellencies rather than imperfections, to discover the concealed beauties of a writer, and communicate to the world such things as are worth their observation.

- Joseph Addison

Among all kinds of Writing, there is none in which Authors are more apt to miscarry than in Works of Humour, as there is none in which they are more ambitious to excel.

- Joseph Addison

I will indulge my sorrows, and give way to all the pangs and fury of despair.

- Joseph Addison

The greatest sweetener of human life is Friendship. To raise this to the highest pitch of enjoyment, is a secret which but few discover.

- Joseph Addison

To a man of pleasure every moment appears to be lost, which partakes not of the vivacity of amusement.

- Joseph Addison

Suspicion is not less an enemy to virtue than to happiness; he that is already corrupt is naturally suspicious, and he that becomes suspicious will quickly be corrupt.

- Joseph Addison

The most violent appetites in all creatures are lust and hunger; the first is a perpetual call upon them to propagate their kind, the latter to preserve themselves.

- Joseph Addison

A man must be both stupid and uncharitable who believes there is no virtue or truth but on his own side.

- Joseph Addison

One should take good care not to grow too wise for so great a pleasure of life as laughter.

- Joseph Addison

Irregularity and want of method are only supportable in men of great learning or genius, who are often too full to be exact, and therefore they choose to throw down their pearls in heaps before the reader, rather than be at the pains of stringing them.

- Joseph Addison

Reading is a basic tool in the living of a good life.

- Joseph Addison

Nothing is capable of being well set to music that is not nonsense.

- Joseph Addison