Arthur Helps Quotes - Page 2

Any one who is much talked of be much maligned. This seems to be a harsh conclusion; but when you consider how much more given men are to depreciate than to appreciate, you will acknowledge that there is some truth in the saying.

If you are often deceived by those around you, you may be sure that you deserve to be deceived; and that instead of railing at the general falseness of mankind, you have first to pronounce judgment on your own jealous tyranny, or on your own weak credulity.

Some persons, instead of making a religion for their God, are content to make a god of their religion.

When we consider the incidents of former days, and perceive, while reviewing the long line of causes, how the most important events of our lives originated in the most trifling circumstances; how the beginning of our greatest happiness or greatest misery is to be attributed to a delay, to an accident, to a mistake; we learn a lesson of profound humility.

It has been said with some meaning that if men would but rest in silence, they might always hear the music of the spheres.

You cannot ensure the gratitude of others for a favour conferred upon them in the way which is most agreeable to yourself.

The most enthusiastic man in a cause is rarely chosen as the leader.

It is quite impossible to understand the character of a person from one action, however striking that action may be.

More than half the difficulties of the world would be allayed or removed by the exhibition of good temper.

There is hardly a more common error than that of taking the man who has one talent, for a genius.

Always win fools first. They talk much, and what they have once uttered they will stick to; whereas there is always time, up to the last moment, to bring before a wise man arguments that may entirely change his opinion.

A mixture of admiration and pity is one of the surest recipes for affection.

The reasons which any man offers to you for his own conduct betray his opinion of your character.

Rare almost as great poets, rarer, perhaps, than veritable saints and martyrs; are consummate men of business. A man, to be excellent in this way, requires a great knowledge of character, with that exquisite tact which feels unerringly the right moment when to act. A discreet rapidity must pervade all the movements of his thought and action. He must be singularly free from vanity, and is generally found to be an enthusiast who has the art to conceal his enthusiasm.

Men of much depth of mind can bear a great deal of counsel; for it does not easily deface their own character, nor render their purposes indistinct.

The very best financial presentation is one that's well thought out and anticipates any questions... answering them in advance.

Few have wished for memory so much as they have longed for forgetfulness.

If you would understand your own age, read the works of fiction produced in it. People in disguise speak freely.

The world will tolerate many vices, but not their diminutives.

No man has ever praised to persons equally-and pleased them both.

A man's action is only a picture book of his creed.

Man ceased to be an ape, vanquished the ape, on the day the first book was written.

Always say a kind word if you can, if only that it may come in, perhaps, with singular opportuneness, entering some mournful man's darkened room, like a beautiful firefly, whose happy circumvolutions he cannot but watch, forgetting his many troubles.

No doubt hard work is a great police agent. If everybody were worked from morning till night, and then carefully locked up, the register of crime might be greatly diminished. But what would become of human nature? Where would be the room for growth in such a system of things? It is through sorrow and mirth, plenty and need, a variety of passions, circumstances, and temptations, even through sin and misery, that men's natures are developed.

The world will find out that part of your character which concerns it: that which especially concerns yourself, it will leave for you to discover.