WIST

The love of liberty is the love of others; the love of power is the love of ourselves.

William Hazlitt (1778-1830) English writer
“The Times Newspaper,” Political Essays (1819)

The least pain in our little finger gives more concern and uneasiness than the destruction of millions of our fellow beings.

William Hazlitt (1778-1830) English writer
“American Literature — Dr. Channing,” Edinburgh Review (Oct 1829)

The least pain in our little finger gives us more concern and uneasiness, than the destruction of millions of our fellow-beings.

William Hazlitt (1778-1830) English writer
“American Literature — Dr. Channing,” Edinburgh Review (Oct 1829)

The art of life is to know how to enjoy a little and to endure much.

William Hazlitt (1778-1830) English writer
“Common Places” (1), Literary Examiner (Sep-Dec 1823)

The art of life is to know how to enjoy a little and to endure much.

William Hazlitt (1778-1830) English writer
“Common Places,” #1, The Literary Examiner (Sep-Dec 1823)

Mankind are an incorrigible race. Give them but bugbears and idols — it is all that they ask; the distinctions of right and wrong, of truth and falsehood, of good and evil, are worse than indifferent to them.

William Hazlitt (1778-1830) English writer
“Common Places,” #76, The Literary Examiner (Sep-Dec 1823)

They are the only honest hypocrites. Their life is a voluntary dream; a studied madness.

William Hazlitt (1778-1830) English writer
“On Actors and Acting,” “The Round Table” column, The Examiner (5 Jan 1817)

We are all of us more or less the slaves of opinion.

William Hazlitt (1778-1830) English writer
“On Court-Influence” (3-10 Jan 1818) Political Essays (1819)

More undertakings fail for want of spirit than for want of sense.

William Hazlitt (1778-1830) English writer
“On Manners,” The Round Table (1817)

No one ever approaches perfection except by stealth, and unknown to themselves.

William Hazlitt (1778-1830) English writer
“On Taste,” Sketches and Essays (1839)

Almost every sect of Christianity is a perversion of its essence, to accommodate it to the prejudices of the world.

William Hazlitt (1778-1830) English writer
“On the Causes of Methodism,” The Round Table (1817)

Those who make their dress a principal part of themselves, will, in general, become of no more value than their dress.

William Hazlitt (1778-1830) English writer
“On the Clerical Character” (January/February 1818), Political Essays (1819)

Look up, laugh loud, talk big, keep the colour in your cheek and the fire in your eye, adorn your person, maintain your health, your beauty, and your animal spirits, and you will pass for a fine man.

William Hazlitt (1778-1830) English writer
“On The Conduct of Life” (1822)

You know more of a road by having travelled it then by all the conjectures and descriptions in the world.

William Hazlitt (1778-1830) English writer
“On The Conduct of Life” (1822)
Full text.

Do not keep on with a mockery of friendship after the substance is gone — but part, while you can part friends. Bury the carcass of friendship: it is not worth embalming.

William Hazlitt (1778-1830) English writer
“On The Conduct of Life” (1822)
Full text.

Our repugnance to death increases in proportion to our consciousness of having lived in vain.

William Hazlitt (1778-1830) English writer
“On the Love of Life,” “The Round Table” column, The Examiner (15 Jan 1815)
Full text.

When a thing ceases to be a subject of controversy, it ceases to be a subject of interest.

William Hazlitt (1778-1830) English writer
“On The Spirit of Controversy,” The Atlas (30 Jan 1830)

There is, however, no prejudice so strong as that which arises from a fancied exemption from all prejudice.

William Hazlitt (1778-1830) English writer
“On the Tendency of Sects,” “The Round Table” column, The Examiner

If a person has no delicacy, he has you in his power, for you necessarily feel some towards him; and since he will take no denial, you must comply with his peremptory demands, or send for a constable, which out of respect for his character you will not do.

William Hazlitt (1778-1830) English writer
“On The Want Of Money,” Monthly Magazine (Jan 1827)
Full text.

Books let us into their souls and lay open to us the secrets of our own.

William Hazlitt (1778-1830) English writer
“The Sick Chamber,” The New Monthly Magazine (August 1830)

The love of liberty is the love of others; the love of power is the love of ourselves.

William Hazlitt (1778-1830) English writer
“The Times Newspaper” Political Essays (1819)

We do not see nature with our eyes, but with our understandings and our hearts.

William Hazlitt (1778-1830) English writer
“Thoughts on Taste,” Edinburgh Magazine (Oct 1818)

I like a person who knows his own mind and sticks to it; who sees at once what, in given circumstances, is to be done, and does it.

William Hazlitt (1778-1830) English writer
(Attributed)

We find many things to which the prohibition of them constitutes the only temptation.

William Hazlitt (1778-1830) English writer
Characteristics, # 140 (1823)

To think ill of mankind and not wish ill to them, is perhaps the highest wisdom and virtue.

William Hazlitt (1778-1830) English writer
Characteristics, # 241 (1823)

Full text.

We can bear to be deprived of everything but our self-conceit.

William Hazlitt (1778-1830) English writer
Characteristics, # 421 (1823)
Full text.

If the world were good for nothing else, it is a fine subject for speculation.

William Hazlitt (1778-1830) English writer
Characteristics, #302 (1823)

Full text.

Every man, in his own opinion, forms an exception to the ordinary rules of morality.

William Hazlitt (1778-1830) English writer
Characteristics, #305 (1823)
Full text.

The true barbarian is he who thinks every thing barbarous but his own tastes and prejudices.

William Hazlitt (1778-1830) English writer
Characteristics, #333 (1823)

Full text.

Those only deserve a monument who do not need one; that is, who have raised themselves a monument in the minds and memories of men.

William Hazlitt (1778-1830) English writer
Characteristics, #388 (1823)
Full text.