Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

S. Austin Allibone, comp. Prose Quotations from Socrates to Macaulay. 1880.

Antoninus

God overrules all mutinous accidents, brings them under his laws of fate, and makes them all serviceable to his purpose.

We should consider that, though we are tied to the chains of fate, there are none but rational creatures have the privilege of moving freely, and making necessity a choice; all other things are forced onward, and dragged along to their doom.

People generally despise where they flatter, and cringe to those they would gladly overtop; so that truth and ceremony are two things.

All men that have rambled after happiness have failed; neither learning, nor fame, nor wealth, nor pleasure, taken separately or jointly could ever give it, without acting up to the height and dignity of human nature, and getting a right set of principles for thought and practice; amongst which may be reckoned the love of justice, temperance, fortitude and benevolence.

Happiness is no other than soundness and perfection of mind.

Put it out of the power of truth to give you an ill character; and if anybody reports you not to be an honest man, let your practice give him the lie; and to make all sure, you should resolve to live no longer than you can live honestly; for it is better to be nothing than a knave.

A rational nature admits of nothing but what is serviceable to the rest of mankind.

Every artifice and profession endeavours to make the thing fit and to answer the end for which it is intended. Those that till the ground, or that break in horses, or train dogs, their business is to make the most of things, and drive them up to the top of their kind; and what other view has learning and education but to improve the faculties, and to set them the right way to work?

Every man’s life lies within the present; for the past is spent and done with, and the future is uncertain.

When you have a mind to divert your fancy, consider the various good qualities of your acquaintances. As the enterprising vigour of this man, the modesty of another, the honour and integrity of a third, the liberality of a fourth, the vivacity and cheerfulness of a fifth, and so on; for there’s nothing so entertaining as a lively image of the virtues and the advantages of those we converse with.

A great estate is a great disadvantage to those who do not know how to use it, for nothing is more common than to see wealthy persons live scandalously and miserably; riches do them no service in order to virtue and happiness: therefore ’tis precept and principle, not an estate, that makes a man good for something.

Do not be over-fond of anything, or consider that for your interest, which makes you break your word, quit your modesty, or inclines you to any practice which will not bear the light, or look the world in the face.