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Charles Caleb Colton Quotes

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True friendship is like sound health; the value of it is seldom known until it is lost.

True friendship is like sound health; the value of it is seldom known until it is lost.

Charles Caleb Colton
Motivational, Friendship, Best Friend
Charles Caleb Colton (1836). “Lacon: Or, Many Things in Few Words, Addressed to Those who Think”, p.295

To know a man, observe how he wins his object, rather than how he loses it; for when we fail, our pride supports us - when we succeed, it betrays us.

Charles Caleb Colton
Success, Pride, Winning
Charles Caleb Colton (1832). “Lacon: Or Many Things in Few Words, Addressed to Those who Think”, p.146

Deliberate with caution, but act with decision and yield with graciousness, or oppose with firmness.

Charles Caleb Colton
Funny, Sarcastic, Yield
Charles Caleb COLTON (1849). “L.P.”, p.157

He that studies books alone, will know how things ought to be; and he that studies men, will know how things are.

Charles Caleb Colton
Education, Book, Men
"Lacon: Or Many Things in Few Words, Addressed to Those who Think".

Revenge is fever in our own blood, to be cured only by letting the blood of another; but the remedy too often produces a relapse, which is remorse--a malady far more dreadful than the first disease, because it is incurable.

Charles Caleb Colton
Revenge, Blood, Fever
Charles Caleb Colton (1824). “Lacon, Or, Many Things in a Few Words: Addressed to Those who Think”, p.169

When you have nothing to say, say nothing; a weak defense strengthens your opponent, and silence is less injurious than a bad reply.

Charles Caleb Colton
Silence, Defense, Opponents
Philip Dormer Stanhope (4th earl of Chesterfield.), Charles Caleb Colton (1861). “Lord Chesterfield's advice to his son on men and manners. To which are added, selections from Colton's 'Lacon'.”, p.227

There are three kinds of praise, that which we yield, that which we lend, and that which we pay. We yield it to the powerful from fear, we lend it to the weak from interest, and we pay it to the deserving from gratitude.

Charles Caleb Colton
Gratitude, Powerful, Yield
Charles Caleb Colton (1824). “Lacon, Or, Many Things in a Few Words: Addressed to Those who Think”, p.188

The mistakes of the fool are known to the world, but not to himself. The mistakes of the wise man are known to himself, but not to the world.

Charles Caleb Colton
Funny, Wise, Wisdom

He that swells in prosperity will be sure to shrink in adversity.

Charles Caleb Colton
Adversity, Prosperity, Shrinks

We know the effects of many things, but the cause of few; experience, therefore, is a surer guide than imagination, and inquiry than conjecture.

Charles Caleb Colton
Imagination, Inquiry, Causes
Lacon: or many things in a few words (p. 111)

Wealth after all is a relative thing since he that has little and wants less is richer than he that has much and wants more.

Charles Caleb Colton
Money, Greatest Wealth, Want
Charles Caleb Colton (1832). “Lacon: Or Many Things in Few Words, Addressed to Those who Think”, p.113

We hate some persons because we do not know them; and will not know them because we hate them.

Charles Caleb Colton
Hate, Anger, Racism
Charles Caleb Colton (1823). “Remarks on the Talents of Lord Byron and the Tendencies of Don Juan”, p.63

Sometimes the greatest adversities turn out to be the greatest blessings.

Charles Caleb Colton
Adversity, Blessing, Sometimes

Silence is foolish if we are wise, but wise if we are foolish.

Charles Caleb Colton
Funny, Wise, Humor
Charles Caleb Colton (1824). “Lacon, Or, Many Things in a Few Words: Addressed to Those who Think”, p.5

The worst thing that can be said of the most powerful is that they can take your life; but the same can be said of the most weak.

Charles Caleb Colton
Powerful, Weak, Said
Charles Caleb Colton (1824). “Lacon, Or, Many Things in a Few Words: Addressed to Those who Think”, p.195

We are more inclined to hate one another for points on which we differ, than to love one another for points on which we agree.

Charles Caleb Colton
Hate, Love One Another, Despise
Charles Caleb Colton (1832). “Lacon: Or Many Things in Few Words, Addressed to Those who Think”

Constant success shows us but one side of the world; adversity brings out the reverse of the picture.

Charles Caleb Colton
Success, Congratulations, Adversity

Men are born with two eyes, but with one tongue, in order that they should see twice as much as they say.

Charles Caleb Colton
Clever, Eye, Men
Charles Caleb Colton (1823). “Remarks on the Talents of Lord Byron and the Tendencies of Don Juan”, p.69

War is a game in which princes seldom win, the people never.

Charles Caleb Colton
War, Winning, Games
Philip Dormer Stanhope (4th earl of Chesterfield.), Charles Caleb Colton (1861). “Lord Chesterfield's advice to his son on men and manners. To which are added, selections from Colton's 'Lacon'.”, p.246

I have found by experience that they who have spent all their lives in cities, improve their talents but impair their virtues; and strengthen their minds but weaken their morals.

Charles Caleb Colton
Cities, Mind, Moral

Silence is less injurious than a weak reply.

Charles Caleb Colton
Silence, Argument, Weak

Imitation is the sincerest of flattery.

Charles Caleb Colton
Flattery, Imitation
Charles Caleb Colton (1824). “Lacon, Or, Many Things in a Few Words: Addressed to Those who Think”, p.114

Money is the most envied, but the least enjoyed. Health is the most enjoyed, but the least envied.

Charles Caleb Colton
Fitness, Flower, Health
Charles Caleb Colton (1824). “Lacon, Or, Many Things in a Few Words: Addressed to Those who Think”, p.120

Those that are the loudest in their threats are the weakest in their actions.

Charles Caleb Colton
Literature, Action, Conflict
Charles Caleb Colton (1824). “Lacon, Or, Many Things in a Few Words: Addressed to Those who Think”, p.131

In life we shall find many men that are great, and some that are good, but very few men that are both great and good.

Charles Caleb Colton
Greatness, Men
Charles Caleb Colton (1824). “Lacon, Or, Many Things in a Few Words: Addressed to Those who Think”, p.69

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