Sir Fulke Greville Quotes

I hardly know a sight that raises one's indignation more than that of an enlarged soul joined to a contracted fortune; unless it be that so much more common one, of a contracted soul joined to an enlarged fortune.

Respect is better procured by exacting than soliciting it.

He whom God chooseth, out of doubt doth well: What they that choose their God do, who can tell?

A proud man never shows his pride so much as when he is civil.

As charity covers a multitude of sins before God, so does politeness before men.

Those men who are commended by everybody must be very extraordinary men; or, which is more probable, very inconsiderable men.

To divest one's self of some prejudices would be like taking off the skin to feel the better.

Removing prejudices is, alas! too often removing the boundary of a delightful near prospect in order to let in a shockingly extensive one.

A very small offence may be a just cause for great resentment: it is often much less the particular instance which is obnoxious to us than the proof it carries with it of the general tenor and disposition of the mind from whence it sprung.

There is in some men a dispassionate neutrality of mind, which, though it generally passes for good temper, can neither gratify nor warm us: it must indeed be granted that these men can only negatively offend: but then it should also be remembered that they cannot positively please.