Laurence Sterne Quotes

Respect for ourselves guides our morals, respect for others guides our manners.

I take a simple view of life. It is keep your eyes open and get on with it.

There is no such thing as real happiness in life. The justest definition that was ever given of it was "a tranquil acquiescence under an agreeable delusion"--I forget where.

Men tire themselves in pursuit of rest.

God tempers the wind to the shorn lamb.

In solitude the mind gains strength and learns to lean upon itself.

Only the brave know how to forgive... a coward never forgave; it is not in his nature.

Keyholes are the occasions of more sin and wickedness, than all other holes in this world put together.

Shall we for ever make new books, as apothecaries make new mixtures, by pouring only out of one vessel into another?

We are born to trouble; and we may depend upon it, whilst we live in this world, we shall have it, though with intermissions.

Endless is the search of truth.

The best hearts are ever the bravest.

Sciences may be learned by rote, but wisdom not.

For every ten jokes you acquire a hundred enemies.

Now or never was the time.

The happiness of life may be greatly increased by small courtesies in which there is no parade, whose voice is too still to tease, and which manifest themselves by tender and affectionate looks, and little kind acts of attention.

The desire of knowledge, like the thirst of riches, increases ever with the acquisition of it.

Pain and pleasure, like light and darkness, succeed each other.

O blessed Health! thou art above all gold and treasure; 'tis thou who enlargest the soul, and openest all its powers to receive instruction, and to relish virtue. He that has thee has little more to wish for, and he that is so wretched as to want thee, wants everything with thee.

Writings may be compared to wine. Sense is the strength, but wit the flavor.

The sad vicissitude of things.

Injuries come only from the heart.

Solitude is the best nurse of wisdom.

Every thing in this world, said my father, is big with jest,--and has wit in it, and instruction too,--if we can but find it out.

Trust that man in nothing who has not a conscience in everything.