No one was ever the better for advice: in general, what we called giving advice was properly taking an occasion to show our own wisdom at another's expense; and to receive advice was little better than tamely to another the occasion of raising himself a character from our defects.

Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 7th Earl of Shaftesbury

Categorized in : Character Giving Advice

The most natural beauty in the world is honesty and moral truth. For all beauty is truth. True features make the beauty of the face; true proportions, the beauty of architecture; true measures, the beauty of harmony and music.

Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 7th Earl of Shaftesbury

honesty truth world

To love the public, to study universal good, and to promote the interest of the whole world, as far as lies within our power, is the height of goodness, and makes that temper which we call divine.

Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 7th Earl of Shaftesbury

height lying world

True courage is cool and calm. The bravest of men have the least of a brutal, bullying insolence, and in the very time of danger are found the most serene and free.

Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 7th Earl of Shaftesbury

bullying time kids

The most natural beauty in the world is honesty and moral truth.... by Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 7th Ear...

The most natural beauty in the world is honesty and moral truth. For all beauty is truth.

Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 7th Earl of Shaftesbury

honesty beauty world

It is the hardest thing in the world to be a good thinker without... by Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 7th Ear...

It is the hardest thing in the world to be a good thinker without being a good self examiner.

Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 7th Earl of Shaftesbury

thinker self world

The heart is never neutral.

Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 7th Earl of Shaftesbury

neutrality heart

Gravity is of the very essence of imposture; it does not only mistake other things, but is apt perpetually almost to mistake itself.

Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 7th Earl of Shaftesbury

essence doe mistake

Remember that there is nothing in God but what is godlike; and that He is either not at all, or truly and perfectly good.

Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 7th Earl of Shaftesbury

perfectly-good god remember

The greatest of fools is he who imposes on himself, and in his greatest concern thinks certainly he knows that which he has least studied, and of which he is most profoundly ignorant.

Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 7th Earl of Shaftesbury

ignorant fool thinking

It is the saying of an ancient sage that humor was the only test... by Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 7th Ear...

It is the saying of an ancient sage that humor was the only test of gravity, and gravity of humor.

Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 7th Earl of Shaftesbury

sage tests humor

Men of sense are really all of one religion. But men of sense nev... by Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 7th Ear...

Men of sense are really all of one religion. But men of sense never tell what it is.

Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 7th Earl of Shaftesbury

men religion

The face of Truth is not less fair and beautiful for all the counterfeit visors which have been put upon her.

Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 7th Earl of Shaftesbury

truth faces beautiful

Tis the strumpet's plague

Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 7th Earl of Shaftesbury

plague

Never did any soul do good but it came readier to do the same again, with more enjoyment. Never was love or gratitude or bounty practiced but with increasing joy, which made the practicer still more in love with the fair act.

Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 7th Earl of Shaftesbury

gratitude soul joy

Wit is its own remedy. Liberty and commerce bring it to its true standard. The only danger is the laying an embargo. The same thing happens here as in the case of trade: impositions and restrictions reduce it to a low ebb; nothing is so advantageous to it as a free port.

Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 7th Earl of Shaftesbury

restriction liberty danger

True features make the beauty of a face, and true proportions the... by Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 7th Ear...

True features make the beauty of a face, and true proportions the beauty of architecture.

Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 7th Earl of Shaftesbury

architecture faces beauty

Nothing is more ridiculous than ridicule.

Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 7th Earl of Shaftesbury

ridicule ridiculous

I would be virtuous for my own sake, though nobody were to know it; as I would be clean for my own sake, though nobody were to see me.

Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 7th Earl of Shaftesbury

virtue sake would-be

Pedantry and bigotry are millstones, able to sink the best book which carries the least part of their dead weight. The temper of the pedagogue suits not with the age; and the world, however it may be taught, will not be tutored.

Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 7th Earl of Shaftesbury

age book world

Through certain humors or passions, and from temper merely, a man may be completely miserable, let his outward circumstances be ever so fortunate.

Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 7th Earl of Shaftesbury

passion may men