Frases de Joseph Addison

página 4

“Um temperamento agradável pode compensar-nos da falta de beleza, mas a beleza não basta para nos indemnizar de um temperamento desagradável.”

“A alegria mantém uma espécie de amanhecer em nossa mente e a enche de serenidade firme e perpétua.”

“Depois da virtude, é o conhecimento o que eleva um homem sobre os demais.”

“Tudo o que é novo suscita na imaginação um raro prazer, porque ele enche a alma com uma agradável surpresa, gratifica sua curiosidade e lhe dá uma idéia do que antes não possuía.”

“A leitura é para o intelecto o que o exercício é para o corpo.”

“O homem se diferencia de todas as outras criaturas pela faculdade de rir.”

“É ridículo para um homem criticar o trabalho de um outro se não se distinguiu pessoalmente na mesma realização.”

“Uma mente satisfeita é a maior bênção que um homem pode aproveitar neste mundo.”

“A vida parece-nos curta, e as horas parecem-nos compridas; o nosso gosto seria alongar a cadeia, encurtando os anéis.”

“Os grandes essenciais
para a felicidade
nesta vida, são
alguma coisa para fazer
alguma coisa para amar
e algo por que esperar.”

“As cores falam todas as línguas.”

“Felicidade é alguém para amar, algo para fazer e algo para aspirar.”

“Nossas verdadeiras bênçãos aparecem para nós em forma de dores, perdas e decepções; mas tenhamos paciência, e logo devemos vê-las em suas próprias figuras.”

“Saúde e alegria mutuamente se geram.”

“Música, o maior produto que os mortais conhecem e tudo de celestial que escutamos aqui em baixo.”

“A amizade aumenta a felicidade e reduz o infortúnio, multiplicando a nossa alegria e dividindo a nossa dor.”

“O sol é para as flores o que os sorrisos são para a humanidade.”

“Dores de irmão exigem piedade de irmão.”

“Há diversos tipos de curiosidade; uma de interesse, que nos leva ao desejo de aprender o que nos pode ser útil, e outra, de orgulho, que provém do desejo de saber o que os outros ignoram.”

“Um bom livro é um legado precioso que o autor faz à humanidade.”

“Nunca encontrei companhia tão amigável como a solidão.”

“Uma mulher raramente pede conselhos antes de ter comprado seu vestido de casamento.”

“O fraco poderá lutar e vencer; perdoar, nunca.”

“O poeta nunca está inteiramente absorto nos seus pensamentos. O técnico está sempre.”

“A modéstia não é um simples ornamento da virtude; é também o seu guardião.”

“Não há nada que recebamos com tanta relutância como os conselhos.”

“O vinho transforma a indiferença em amor, o amor em ciúme e o ciúme em loucura.”

“See in what peace a Christian can die!”

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

“I Have often thought if the minds of men were laid open, we should see but little difference between that of the wise man and that of the fool. There are infinite reveries, numberless extravagances, and a perpetual train of vanities which pass through both. The great difference is, that the first knows how to pick and cull his thoughts for conversation, by suppressing some, and communicating others; whereas the other lets them all indifferently fly out in words.”

“A little nonsense now and then
Is relished by the wisest men.”

“In all thy humours, whether grave or mellow,
Thou 'rt such a touchy, testy, pleasant fellow,
Hast so much wit and mirth and spleen about thee,
There is no living with thee, nor without thee.”

“The ideal man bears the accidents of life
With dignity and grace, the best of circumstances.”

“Mere bashfulness without merit is awkward; and merit without modesty, insolent. But modest merit has a double claim to acceptance, and generally meets with as many patrons as beholders.”

“To my confusion, and eternal grief,
I must approve the sentence that destroys me.”

“Love is not to be reason'd down, or lost
In high ambition, and a thirst of greatness;
'Tis second life, it grows into the soul,
Warms every vein, and beats in every pulse.”

“Sir Roger made several reflections on the greatness of the British Nation; as, that one Englishman could beat three Frenchmen; that we could never be in danger of Popery so long as we took care of our fleet; that the Thames was the noblest river in Europe…with many other honest prejudices which naturally cleave to the heart of a true Englishman.”

“A just and reasonable modesty does not only recommend eloquence, but sets off every great talent which a man can be possessed of.”

“If men would consider not so much where they differ, as wherein they agree, there would be far less of uncharitableness and angry feeling in the world.”

“Mirth is like a flash of lightning, that breaks through a gloom of clouds, and glitters for a moment; cheerfulness keeps up a kind of daylight in the mind, and fills it with a steady and perpetual serenity.”

“Death only closes a Man's Reputation, and determines it as good or bad.”

“For wheresoe'er I turn my ravished eyes,
Gay gilded scenes and shining prospects rise,
Poetic fields encompass me around,
And still I seem to tread on classic ground.”

“I consider an human soul without education like marble in the quarry, which shews none of its inherent beauties till the skill of the polisher fetches out the colours, makes the surface shine, and discovers every ornamental cloud, spot and vein that runs through the body of it.”

“Our delight in any particular study, art, or science rises and improves in proportion to the application which we bestow upon it. Thus, what was at first an exercise becomes at length an entertainment.”

“When you are at Rome, live as Romans live.”

“Reading is a basic tool in the living of a good life.”

“There is no virtue so truly great and godlike as justice.”

“Were you with these, my prince, you'd soon forget
The pale, unripened beauties of the north.”

“Plenty of people wish to become devout, but no one wishes to be humble.”

“It is only imperfection that complains of what is imperfect. The more perfect we are the more gentle and quiet we become towards the defects of others.”

“Loveliest of women! heaven is in thy soul,
Beauty and virtue shine forever round thee,
Bright'ning each other! thou art all divine!”

“The chief ingredients in the composition of those qualities that gain esteem and praise, are good nature, truth, good sense, and good breeding.”

“A day, an hour, of virtuous liberty
Is worth a whole eternity in bondage.”

“Thy steady temper, Portius,
Can look on guilt, rebellion, fraud, and Cæsar,
In the calm lights of mild philosophy.”

“What though no real voice nor sound
Amid their radiant orbs be found;
In reason's ear they all rejoice,
And utter forth a glorious voice,
Forever singing as they shine,
"The Hand that made us divine."”

“Health and cheerfulness mutually beget each other.”