Book of Wise Sayings: Selected Largely from Eastern SourcesClouston, W. A. (William Alexander)
Philosophy
Book of Wise Sayings: Selected Largely from Eastern Sources
Clouston, W. A. (William Alexander)
Maxims; Quotations
There is nothing more pitiable in the world than an irresolute man
vacillating between two feelings, who would willingly unite the two,
and who does not perceive that nothing can unite them.
_Goethe._
295.
Beauty in a modest woman is like fire at a distance, or like a sharp
sword: neither doth the one burn nor the other wound him that comes
not too near them.
_Cervantes._
296.
We are more sociable and get on better with people by the heart than
the intellect.
_La Bruyère._
297.
A good man may fall, but he falls like a ball [and rebounds]; the
ignoble man falls like a lump of clay.
_Bhartrihari._
298.
Do not anxiously expect what is not yet come; do not vainly regret
what is already past.
_Chinese._
299.
The way to subject all things to thyself is to subject thyself to
reason; thou shalt govern many if reason govern thee. Wouldst thou
be a monarch of a little world, command thyself.
_Quarles._
300.
If our inward griefs were written on our brows, how many who are
envied now would be pitied. It would seem that they had their
deadliest foe in their own breast, and their whole happiness would
be reduced to mere seeming.
_Metastasio._
301.
There are many who talk on from ignorance rather than from
knowledge, and who find the former an inexhaustible fund of
conversation.
_Hazlitt._
302.
Whoever brings cheerfulness to his work, and is ever active, dashes
through the world’s labours.
_Tieck._
303.
Grossness is not difficult to define: it is obtrusive and
objectionable pleasantry.
_Theophrastus._
304.
Do not consider any vice as trivial, and therefore practise it; do
not consider any virtue as unimportant, and therefore neglect it.
_Chinese._
305.
To bad as well as good, to all,
A generous man compassion shows;
On earth no mortal lives, he knows,
Who does not oft through weakness fall.
_Rāmāyana._
306.
The good extend their loving care
To men, however mean or vile;
E’en base Chándálas’[12] dwellings share
Th’ impartial sunbeam’s silver smile.
_Hitopadesa._
[12] Chándálas, or Pariahs, are the lowest, or of no caste.
307.
Let a man accept with confidence valuable knowledge even from a
person of low degree, good instruction regarding duty even from a
humble man, and a jewel of a wife even from an ignoble family.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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