Joseph addison

“A true critic ought to dwell rather upon the excellencies than imperfections, to discover the concealed beauties of a writer, and communicate to the world such things as are worth their observation.”

“Admiration is a very short-lived passion, that immediately decays upon growing familiar with its object.” 

“Better to die ten thousand deaths than wound my honor.” 

“Books are the legacies that a great genius leaves to mankind, which are delivered down from generation to generation as presents to the posterity of those who are yet unborn.”

“Eternity! thou pleasing, dreadful thought.” 

“Great souls by instinct to each other turn, demand alliance, and in friendship burn.” 

“Music, the greatest good that mortals know,

And all of heaven we have below.”

“Of all the diversions of life, there is none so proper to fill up its empty spaces as the reading of useful and entertaining authors.”

“Our real blessings often appear to us in the shapes of pains, losses and disappointments; but let us have patience, and we soon shall see them in their proper figures.”

“See in what peace a Christian can die.”

“The hours of a wise man are lengthened by his ideas.”

“The transition from cause to effect, from event to event, is often carried on by secret steps, which our foresight cannot divine, and our sagacity is unable to trace.”

“There is nothing which we receive with so much reluctance as advice.” 

“Three grand essentials to happiness in life are something to do, something to love, and something to hope for.”

“Through all eternity to thee, a joyful song I'll raise; for oh! Eternity's too short to utter all thy praise.”

“We are growing serious, and let me tell you, that’s the next step to being dull.”