Charles Caleb Colton Quotes

He that has never suffered extreme adversity knows not the full extent of his own depravation.
Charles Caleb Colton
A windmill is eternally at work to accomplish one end although it shifts with every variation of the weather cock and assumes 10 different positions in a day.
Charles Caleb Colton
Wealth ... is a relative thing since he that has little and wants less is richer than he that has much but wants more.
Charles Caleb Colton
Pure truth like pure gold has been found unfit for circulation because men have discovered that it is far more convenient to adulterate the truth than to refine themselves.
Charles Caleb Colton
Men spend their lives in anticipation in determining to be vastly happy at some period when they have time. But the present time has one advantage over every other-it is our own.... We may lay in a stock of pleasures as we would lay in a stock of wine but if we defer the tasting of them too long we shall find that both are soured by age.
Charles Caleb Colton
A house may draw visitors but it is the possessor alone that can detain them.
Charles Caleb Colton
If you would be known and not know vegetate in a village if you would know and not be known live in a city.
Charles Caleb Colton
Success seems to be that which forms the distinction between confidence and conceit.
Charles Caleb Colton
To dare to live alone is the rarest courage since there are many who had rather meet their bitterest enemy in the field than their own hearts in their closet.
Charles Caleb Colton
To be obliged to beg our daily happiness from others bespeaks a more lamentable poverty than that of him who begs his daily bread.
Charles Caleb Colton
Happiness that grand mistress of the ceremonies in the dance of life impels us through all its mazes and meanderings but leads none of us by the same route.
Charles Caleb Colton
We are sure to be losers when we quarrel with ourselves it is civil war.
Charles Caleb Colton
Men will wrangle for religion write for it fight for it die for it anything but live for it.
Charles Caleb Colton
The three great apostles of practical atheism that make converts without persecuting and retain them without preaching are Wealth Health and Power.
Charles Caleb Colton
Times of general calamity and confusion have ever been productive of the greatest minds. The purest ore is produced from the hottest furnace and the brightest thunderbolt is elicited from the darkest storms.
Charles Caleb Colton
There is a paradox in pride: it makes some men ridiculous but prevents others from becoming so.
Charles Caleb Colton
We hate some persons because we do not know them and will not know them because we hate them.
Charles Caleb Colton
Applause is the spur of noble minds the end and aim of weak ones.
Charles Caleb Colton
It is good to act as if. It is even better to grow to the point where it is no longer an act.
Charles Caleb Colton
Much may be done in those little shreds and patches of time which every day produces and which most men throw away.
Charles Caleb Colton
He that has cut the claws of the lion will not feel quite secure until he has also drawn his teeth.
Charles Caleb Colton
Happiness that grand mistress of the ceremonies in the dance of life impels us through all its mazes and meanderings but leads none of us by the same route.
Charles Caleb Colton
We are sure to be losers when we quarrel with ourselves it is civil war.
Charles Caleb Colton
Men will wrangle for religion write for it fight for it die for it anything but live for it.
Charles Caleb Colton
The three great apostles of practical atheism that make converts without persecuting and retain them without preaching are Wealth Health and Power.
Charles Caleb Colton
Times of general calamity and confusion have ever been productive of the greatest minds. The purest ore is produced from the hottest furnace and the brightest thunderbolt is elicited from the darkest storms.
Charles Caleb Colton
There is a paradox in pride: it makes some men ridiculous but prevents others from becoming so.
Charles Caleb Colton
We hate some persons because we do not know them and will not know them because we hate them.
Charles Caleb Colton
Applause is the spur of noble minds the end and aim of weak ones.
Charles Caleb Colton
It is good to act as if. It is even better to grow to the point where it is no longer an act.
Charles Caleb Colton
Much may be done in those little shreds and patches of time which every day produces and which most men throw away.
Charles Caleb Colton
He that has cut the claws of the lion will not feel quite secure until he has also drawn his teeth.
Charles Caleb Colton
Applause is the spur of noble minds the end and aim of weak ones.
Charles Caleb Colton
I have found by experience that they who have spent all their lives in cities improve their talents but impair their virtues and strengthen their minds but weaken their morals.
Charles Caleb Colton
If you cannot inspire a woman with love of you fill her above the brim with love of herself all that runs over will be yours.
Charles Caleb Colton
We owe almost all our knowledge not to those who have agreed but to those who have differed.
Charles Caleb Colton
He that will not permit his wealth to do any good for others ... cuts himself off from the truest pleasure here and the highest happiness later.
Charles Caleb Colton
Did universal charity prevail earth would be a heaven and hell a fable.
Charles Caleb Colton
The man of pleasure by a vain attempt to be more happy than any man can be is often more miserable than most men.
Charles Caleb Colton
To be obliged to beg our daily happiness from others bespeaks a more lamentable poverty than that of him who begs his daily bread.
Charles Caleb Colton
Happiness ... leads none of us by the same route.
Charles Caleb Colton
A windmill is eternally at work to accomplish one end although it shifts with every variation of the weathercock and assumes ten different positions in a day.
Charles Caleb Colton
Most of our misfortunes are comments of our friends upon them.
Charles Caleb Colton
True friendship is like sound health the value of it is seldom known until it be lost.
Charles Caleb Colton
The firmest friendships have been formed in mutual adversity as iron is most strongly united by the fiercest flame.
Charles Caleb Colton
Friendship often ends in love but love in friendship - never.
Charles Caleb Colton
Never join with your friend when he abuses his horse or his wife unless the one is to be sold and the other to be buried.
Charles Caleb Colton
True contentment depends not upon what we have a tub was large enough for Diogenes but a world was too little for Alexander.
Charles Caleb Colton
Pedantry crams our heads with learned lumber and takes out brains to make room for it.
Charles Caleb Colton
Human foresight often leaves its proudest possessor only a choice of evils.
Charles Caleb Colton
Body and mind like man and wife do not always agree to die together.
Charles Caleb Colton
He that has energy enough to root out a vice should go further and try to plant a virtue in its place.
Charles Caleb Colton
Courage is generosity of the highest order for the brave are prodigal of the most precious things.
Charles Caleb Colton
That cowardice is incorrigible which the love of power cannot overcome.
Charles Caleb Colton
Physical courage which despises all danger will make a man brave in one way and moral courage which despises all opinion will make a man brave in another. The former would seem most necessary for the camp the latter for the council but to constitute a great man both are necessary.
Charles Caleb Colton
Ennui has made more gamblers than avarice more drunkards than thirst and perhaps as many suicides as despair.
Charles Caleb Colton
There are three modes of bearing the ills of life: by indifference by philosophy and by religion.
Charles Caleb Colton
Times of general calamity and confusion have ever been productive of the greatest minds. The purist ore is produced from the hottest furnace and the brightest thunderbolt is elicited from the darkest storms.
Charles Caleb Colton
There are three modes of bearing the ills of life: by indifference by philosophy and by religion.
Charles Caleb Colton
Liberty will not descend to a people. A people must raisethemselves to liberty. It is a blessing that must be earned before it can be enjoyed.
Charles Caleb Colton