Laurence Sterne Quotes - Page 6

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How many thousands of [lives] are there every year that comes cast away, (in all civilized countries at least)--and consider'd asnothing but common air, in competition of an hypothesis.

Laurence Sterne

Country, War, Air

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I once asked a hermit in Italy how he could venture to live alone, in a single cottage, on the top of a mountain, a mile from any habitation? He replied, that Providence was his next-door neighbor.

Laurence Sterne

Doors, Mountain, Cottages

Laurence Sterne (1795). “The Works of Laurence Sterne”, p.175

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The mind should be accustomed to make wise reflections, and draw curious conclusions as it goes along; the habitude of which made Pliny the Younger affirm that he never read book so bad but he drew some profit from it.

Laurence Sterne

Wise, Book, Reading

Laurence Sterne (1849). “The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman”, p.43

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I hate set dissertations,--and above all things in the world, 'tis one of the silliest things in one of them, to darken your hypothesis by placing a number of tall, opake words, one before another, in a right line, betwixt your own and your readers conception.

Laurence Sterne

Hate, Numbers, Obscurity

Laurence Sterne (1849). “The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman”, p.151

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My father, whose way was to force every event in nature into an hypothesis, by which means never man crucified TRUTH at the rate he did.

Laurence Sterne

Truth, Father, Mean

Laurence Sterne (2013). “3 Books by Laurence Sterne”, p.523, eBookIt.com

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There is a plain distinction to be made betwixt pleasure and happiness. For tho' there can be no happiness without pleasure--yet the converse of the proposition will not hold true.--We are so made, that from the common gratifications of our appetites, and the impressions of a thousand objects, we snatch the one, like a transient gleam, without being suffered to taste the other.

Laurence Sterne

Happiness, Gleam, Taste

Laurence Sterne (2013). “Delphi Complete Works of Laurence Sterne (Illustrated)”, Delphi Classics

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When my way is too rough for my feet, or too steep for my strength, I get off it to some smooth velvet path which fancy has scattered over with rosebuds of delights; and, having taken a few turns in it, come back strengthened and refreshed.

Laurence Sterne

Taken, Feet, Way

Laurence Sterne (1800). “A sentimental journey through France and Italy: to which are added the letters to Eliza”, p.92

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When a poor disconsolated drooping creature is terrified from all enjoyment,--prays without ceasing 'till his imagination is heated,--fasts and mortifies and mopes, till his body is in as bad a plight as his mind; is it a wonder, that the mechanical disturbancesof an empty belly, interpreted by an empty head, should be mistook for [the] workings [of God].

Laurence Sterne

Imagination, Mind, Plight

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Upon the present theological computation, ten souls must be lost for one that is saved. At which rate of reckoning, heaven can raise but its cohorts while hell commands its legions. From which sad account it would appear, that, though our Saviour had conquered death by the resurrection, he had not yet been able to overcome sin by the redemption.

Laurence Sterne

Heaven, Soul, Overcoming

Laurence Sterne (1814). “The Works of Laurence Sterne: With a Life of the Author”, p.271

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The proper education of poor children [is] the ground-work of almost every other kind of charity.... Without this foundation firstlaid, how much kindnessis unavoidably cast away?

Laurence Sterne

Education, Children, Charity

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I have undertaken, you see, to write not only my life, but my opinions also; hoping and expecting that your knowledge of my character, and of what kind of a mortal I am, by the one, would give you a better relish for the other: As you proceed further with me, the slight acquaintance which is now beginning betwixt us, will grow into familiarity; and that, unless one of us is in fault, will terminate in friendship.

Laurence Sterne

Writing, Character, Giving

Laurence Sterne, Sir Walter Scott (1832). “The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman”, p.7

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But this is neither here nor there why do I mention it? Ask my pen, it governs me, I govern not it.

Laurence Sterne

Literature, Pens, Asks

Laurence Sterne (1817). “The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman”, p.386

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Lessons of wisdom have the most power over us when they capture the heart through the groundwork of a story, which engages the passions.

Laurence Sterne

Wisdom, Passion, Heart

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The most accomplished way of using books is to serve them as some people do lords; learn their titles and then brag of their acquaintance.

Laurence Sterne

Book, People, Titles

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Titles of honour are like the impressions on coin; — which add no value to gold and silver, but only render brass current.

Laurence Sterne

Honor, Gold, Titles

"The Works of Laurence Sterne".

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What is the life of man! Is it not to shift from side to side? From sorrow to sorrow? To button up one cause of vexation! And unbutton another!

Laurence Sterne

Life, Men, Sorrow

Laurence Sterne (1817). “The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman”, p.313

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Dear sensibility! Source inexhausted of all that's precious in our joys, or costly in our sorrows! Eternal fountain of our feelings! 'tis here I trace thee and this is thy divinity which stirs within me...All comes from thee, great-great SENSORIUM of the world!

Laurence Sterne

Joy, Feelings, Sorrow

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Human nature is the same in all professions.

Laurence Sterne

Human Nature, Profession, Humans

Laurence Sterne (1817). “The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman”, p.167

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If death, said my father, reasoning with himself, is nothing but the separation of the soul from the body;--and if it is true that people can walk about and do their business without brains,--then certes the soul does not inhabit there.

Laurence Sterne

Father, People, Soul

Laurence Sterne (2013). “3 Books by Laurence Sterne”, p.121, eBookIt.com

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To write a book is for all the world like humming a song.

Laurence Sterne

Song, Book, Writing

Laurence Sterne (1849). “The Works of Laurence Sterne: Containing The Life and Opinions of Tristan Shandy ... [etc.] ; with a Life of the Author Written by Himself”, p.137

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It is the nature of an hypothesis, when once a man has conceived it, that it assimilates every thing to itself, as proper nourishment; and, from the first moment of your begetting it, it generally grows the stronger by every thing you see, hear, read, or understand.

Laurence Sterne

Reading, Science, Men

'Tristram Shandy' (1759-67) bk. 2, ch. 19

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First, whenever a man talks loudly against religion, always suspect that it is not his reason, but his passions, which have got the better of his creed. A bad life and a good belief are disagreeable and troublesome neighbors, and where they separate, depend upon it, 'Tis for no other cause but quietness sake.

Laurence Sterne

Passion, Men, Atheism

'Tristram Shandy' (1759-67) bk. 2, ch. 17

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Of all the cants which are canted in this canting world - though the cant of hypocrites may be the worst - the cant of criticism is the most tormenting!

Laurence Sterne

Hypocrite, Hypocrisy, Criticism

'Tristram Shandy' (1759-67) bk. 3, ch. 12

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I'll not hurt thee, says Uncle Toby, rising with the fly in his hand. Go, he says, opening the window to let it escape. Why should I hurt thee? This world is surely wide enough to hold both thee and me.

Laurence Sterne

Hurt, Uncles, Animal

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All womankind, from the highest to the lowest love jokes; the difficulty is to know how they choose to have them cut; and there is no knowing that, but by trying, as we do with our artillery in the field, by raising or letting down their breeches, till we hit the mark.

Laurence Sterne

Love, Cutting, Knowing

Laurence Sterne (2013). “3 Books by Laurence Sterne”, p.493, eBookIt.com

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Born: November 24, 1713
Died: March 18, 1768
Occupation: Novelist
Cite this Page: Citation

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