Charles Caleb Colton Quotes

He that has never known adversity is but half acquainted with others, or with himself.

Bigotry murders religion to frighten fools with her ghost.

There is but one pursuit in life which it is in the power of all to follow, and of all to attain. It is subject to no disappointments, since he that perseveres, makes every difficulty an advancement, and every contest a victory; and this is the pursuit of virtue.

A thorough-paced knave will rarely quarrel with one whom he can cheat: his revenge is plunder; therefore he is usually the most forgiving of beings, upon the principle that if he come to an open rupture, he must defend himself; and this does not suit a man whose vocation it is to keep his hands in the pocket of another.

Subtract from the great man all that he owes to opportunity, all that he owes to chance, and all that he gained by the wisdom of his friends and the folly of his enemies, and the giant will often be seen to be a pygmy.

None are so seldom found alone, and are so soon tired of their own company, as those coxcombs who are on the best terms with themselves.

My lowest days as a Christian have been more fulfilling and rewarding than all the days of glory in the White House.

If a horse has four legs, and I’m riding it, I think I can win.

Nobility of birth does not always insure a corresponding unity of mind; if it did, it would always act as a stimulus to noble actions; but it sometimes acts as a clog rather than a spur.

A lady of fashion will sooner excuse a freedom flowing from admiration than a slight resulting from indifference.

So long as lust, whether of the world or flesh, smells sweet in our nostrils, so long we are loathsome to God.

Emulation looks out for merits, that she may exalt herself by a victory; envy spies out blemishes that she may lower another by defeat.