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PORTER, Jane Quotes
(1776-1850), English novelist
I never yet heard man or woman much abused that I was not inclined to think the better of them, and to transfer the suspicion or dislike to the one who found pleasure in pointing out the defects of another.
The chief glory of a country, says Johnson, arises from its authors.—But this is only when they are oracles of wisdom.—Unless they teach virtue they are more worthy of a halter than of the laurel.
Beauty of form affects the mind, but then it must not be the mere shell that we admire, but the thought that this shell is only the beautiful case adjusted to the shape and value of a still more beautiful pearl within.—The perfection of outward loveliness is the soul shining through its crystalline covering.
To take for granted as truth all that is alleged against the fame of others, is a species of credulity that men would blush at on any other subject.
Life is a warfare; and he who easily desponds deserts a double duty—he betrays the noblest property of man, which is dauntless resolution; and he rejects the providence of that all-gracious Being who guides and rules the universe.
It depends on education to open the gates which lead to virtue or to vice, to happiness or to misery.
Happiness is a sunbeam which may pass through a thousand bosoms without losing a particle of its original ray; nay, when it strikes on a kindred heart, like the converged light on a mirror, it reflects itself with redoubled brightness.—It is not perfected till it is shared.
Humility is the Christian's greatest honor; and the higher men climb, the further they are from heaven.
There is nothing so clear-sighted and sensible as a noble mind in a low estate.
Our griefs, as well as our joys, owe their strongest colors to our imaginations.—There is nothing so grievous to be borne that pondering upon it will not make it heavier; and there is no pleasure so vivid that the animation of fancy cannot enliven it.
When the cup of any sensual pleasure is drained to the bottom, there is always poison in the dregs.
Imparting knowledge is only lighting other men's candle at our lamp, without depriving ourselves of any flame.
In the career of female fame, there are few prizes to be obtained which can vie with the obscure state of a beloved wife, or a happy mother.
A mob is a sort of bear; while your ring is through its nose, it will even dance under your cudgel; but should the ring slip, and you lose your hold, the brute will turn and rend you.
Nobility, without virtue, is a fine setting without a gem.
National antipathy is the basest, because the most illiberal and illiterate of all prejudices.
The only impregnable citadel of virtue is religion; for there is no bulwark of mere morality, which some temptation may not overtop or undermine and destroy.
The fruition of what is unlawful must be followed by remorse. The core sticks in the throat after the apple is eaten, and the sated appetite loathes the interdicted pleasure for which innocence was bartered.
The best manner of avenging ourselves is by not resembling him who has injured us.
He that easily believes rumors has the principle within him to augment rumors.—It is strange to see the ravenous appetite with which some devourers of character and happiness fix upon the sides of the innocent and unfortunate.
The most annoying of all public reformers is the personal satirist. Though he may be considered by some few as a useful member of society, yet he is only ranked with the hangmen, whom we tolerate because he executes the judgment we abhor to do ourselves, and avoid with a natural detestation of his office. The pen of the one and the cord of the other are inseparable in our minds.
When Alexander had subdued the world, and wept that none were left to dispute his arms, his tears were an involuntary tribute to a monarchy that he knew not, man's empire over himself.
Self-love leads men of narrow minds io measure all mankind by their own capacity.
When the cup of any sensual pleasure is drained to the bottom, there is always poison in the dregs.
The virtues, like the Muses, are always seen in groups. A good principle was never found solitary in any breast.
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