One would think that the larger the company is in which we are engaged, the greater variety of thoughts and subjects would be started into discourse; but, instead of this we find that conversation is never so much straightened and confined, as in numerous assemblies.

Joseph Addison

Categorized in : Thinking Would Be Assembly

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

Joseph Addison

inspirational love life

What sunshine is to flowers, smiles are to humanity. These are but trifles, to be sure; but scattered along life's pathway, the good they do is inconceivable.

Joseph Addison

inspirational friendship life

No one is more cherished in this world than someone who lightens the burden of another. Thank you.

Joseph Addison

volunteer appreciation world

Their is no defense against criticism except obscurity.

Joseph Addison

humor criticism funny

The greatest sweetener of human life is Friendship. To raise this to the highest pitch of enjoyment, is a secret which but few discover.

Joseph Addison

real-friends secret friendship

There is nothing that makes its way more directly into the soul than beauty.

Joseph Addison

soul beauty inspirational

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.

Joseph Addison

vanity wise men

Cheerfulness is the best promoter of health and is as friendly to the mind as to the body.

Joseph Addison

health inspiration happiness

They were a people so primitive they did not know how to get money, except by working for it.

Joseph Addison

money work funny

On you, my lord, with anxious fear I wait, and from your judgment must expect my fate.

Joseph Addison

judgment fate waiting

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

Joseph Addison

pain patience happiness

The most skillful flattery is to let a person talk on, and be a listener.

Joseph Addison

skillful flattery persons

Were a man's sorrows and disquietudes summed up at the end of his life, it would generally be found that he had suffered more from the apprehension of such evils as never happened to him than from those evils which had really befallen him.

Joseph Addison

evil fear men

When men are easy in their circumstances, they are naturally enemies to innovations.

Joseph Addison

innovation goal men

There is not a more pleasing exercise of the mind than gratitude. It is accompanied with such an inward satisfaction that the duty is sufficiently rewarded by the performance

Joseph Addison

gratitude thankful thank-you

A man’s first care should be to avoid the reproaches of his own heart.

Joseph Addison

care heart men

How is it possible for those who are men of honor in their persons, thus to become notorious liars in their party

Joseph Addison

party liars men

What sculpture is to a block of marble, education is to the human soul.

Joseph Addison

education inspiring motivational

There is not any present moment that is unconnected with some future one. The life of every man is a continued chain of incidents, each link of which hangs upon the former. 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. Evil may at some future period bring forth good; and good may bring forth evil, both equally unexpected.

Joseph Addison

secret evil men

All well-regulated families set apart an hour every morning for tea and bread and butter

Joseph Addison

bread tea morning