Quotes on Mischief

A very great part of the mischiefs that vex the world arises from words.

It is the quality of patriotism to be jealous and watchful, to observe all secret machinations, and to see publick dangers at a distance. The true lover of his country is ready to communicate his fears, and to sound the alarm, whenever he perceives the approach of mischief. But he sounds no alarm, when there is no enemy; he never terrifies his countrymen till he is terrified himself. The patriotism, therefore, may be justly doubted of him, who professes to be disturbed by incredibilities.

She was a mischief, and that was a satisfaction; no longer was she a huntress of corralled game

From the boys' point of view, scouting puts them into fraternity-gangs, which is their natural organisation, whether for games, mischief, or loafing; it gives them a smart dress and equipments; it appeals to their imagination and romance; and it engages them in an active, open-air life.

The opportunity for doing mischief is found a hundred times a day, and of doing good once in a year.

A little neglect may breed great mischief.

The madness of mobs or the insolence of soldiers, or both, when too near to each other, occasion some mischief.

There are but very few men clever enough to know all the mischief they do.

'Tis not enough your counsel still be true; Blunt truths more mischief than nice falsehoods do.

O mischief, thou art swift to enter in the thoughts of desperate men!

He who has a mind to do mischief will always find a pretense.

Where cheating is, there's mischief there.

And where is the Prince who can afford to so cover his country with troops for its defense, as that ten thousand men descending from the clouds, might not in many places do an infinite deal of mischief, before a force could be brought together to repel them?

Of themselves diseases come upon men continually by day and by night, bringing mischief to mortals silently; for wise Zeus took away speech from them. So is there no way to escape the will of Zeus

The state can be and has often been in the course of history the main source of mischief and disaster.

That doctrine of peace at any price has done more mischief than any I can well recall that have been afloat in this country. It has occasioned more wars than any of the most ruthless conquerors. It has disturbed and nearly destroyed that political equilibrium so necessary to the liberties and the welfare of the world.

It may be said that the power of preventing bad laws includes that of preventing good ones; and may be used to the one purpose as well as to the other. But this objection will have little weight with those who can properly estimate the mischiefs of that inconstancy and mutability in the laws, which form the greatest blemish in the character and genius of our governments.

The balance of power is the scale of peace. The same balance would be preserved were all the world not destitute of arms, for all would be alike; but since some will not, others dare not lay them aside ... Horrid mischief would ensue were one half the world deprived of the use of them ... the weak will become prey to the strong.

It is the child of avarice, the brother of iniquity, and the father of mischief.

All authority belongs to the people... In questions of power let no more be heard of confidence in man, but bind him down from mischief with chains of the Constitution.

It is difficult to say who do you the most mischief, enemies with the worst intentions, or friends with the best.