Explore Quotes by Charles Caleb Colton

If we steal thoughts from the moderns, it will be cried down as plagiarism; if from the ancients, it will be cried up as erudition.

Friendship, of itself a holy tie, is made more sacred by adversity.

Suicide sometimes proceeds from cowardice, but not always; for cowardice sometimes prevents it; since as many live because they are afraid to die, as die because they are afraid to live.

There are two way of establishing a reputation, one to be praised by honest people and the other to be accused by rogues. It is best, however, to secure the first one, because it will always be accompanied by the latter.

Life isn't like a book. Life isn't logical or sensible or orderly. Life is a mess most of the time. And theology must be lived in the midst of that mess.

Many books require no thought from those who read them, and for a very simple reason; they made no such demand upon those who wrote them.

Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty; it is a blessing that must be earned before it can be enjoyed.

True contentment depends not upon what we have; a tub was large enough for Diogenes, but a world was too little for Alexander.

We often pretend to fear what we really despise, and more often despise what we really fear.

Power will intoxicate the best hearts, as wine the strongest heads. No man is wise enough, nor good enough to be trusted with unlimited power.

I'm aiming by the time I'm fifty to stop being an adolescent.

Next to acquiring good friends, the best acquisition is that of good books.

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.

The greatest friend of truth is Time, her greatest enemy is Prejudice, and her constant companion is Humility.

Much may be done in those little shreds and patches of time which every day produces, and which most men throw away.

Patience is the support of weakness; impatience the ruin of strength.

We hate some persons because we do not know them; and will not know them because we hate them.

The study of mathematics, like the Nile, begins in minuteness but ends in magnificence.

Men are born with two eyes, but with one tongue, in order that they should see twice as much as they say.

Ladies of Fashion starve their happiness to feed their vanity, and their love to feed their pride.

Corruption is like a ball of snow, once it's set a rolling it must increase.