WIST Quotations

Steele, Richard -- Essay (1709-03-17), The Tatler, No. 147

Dave — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 13:27:30 +0000

Reading is to the mind, what exercise is to the body: as by the one, health is preserved, strengthened and invigorated; by the other, virtue, which is the health of the mind, is kept alive, cherished and confirmed. But as exercise becomes tedious and painful when we make use of it only as the means of health, so reading is apt to grow uneasy and burdensome, when we apply ourselves to it only for our improvement in virtue. For this reason, the virtue which we gather from a sable, or an allegory, is like the health we get by hunting; as we are engaged in an agreeable pursuit that draws us on with pleasure, and makes us insensible of the fatigues that accompany it.

Richard Steele (1672–1729) Anglo-Irish writer, journalist, playwright, politician
Essay (1709-03-17), The Tatler, No. 147
(Source)

Steele, Richard -- Essay (1709-06-28), The Tatler, No. 35

Dave — Tue, 09 Jul 2013 13:05:16 +0000

But however low and poor the taking of Snuff argues a Man to be in his own Stock of Thought, or Means to employ his Brains and his Fingers, yet there is a poorer Creature in the World than He, and this is a Borrower of Snuff; a Fellow that keeps no Box of his own, but is always asking others for a Pinch.

Richard Steele (1672–1729) Anglo-Irish writer, journalist, playwright, politician
Essay (1709-06-28), The Tatler, No. 35
(Source)

Steele, Richard -- Essay (1709-07-14), The Tatler, No. 29

Dave — Tue, 23 Jul 2013 17:19:34 +0000

It’s a particular Observation I have always made, That of all Mortals, a Critick is the silliest; for by inuring himself to examine all Things, whether they are of Consequence or not, he never looks upon any Thing but with a Design of passing Sentence upon it; by which Means, he is never a Companion, but always a Censor. This makes him earnest upon Trifles; and dispute on the most indifferent Occasions with vehemence.

Richard Steele (1672–1729) Anglo-Irish writer, journalist, playwright, politician
Essay (1709-07-14), The Tatler, No. 29
(Source)

Steele, Richard -- Essay (1709-11-02), The Tatler, No. 89

Dave — Tue, 02 Jul 2013 13:21:37 +0000

There is no Pleasure like that of receiving Praise from the Praiseworthy.

Richard Steele (1672–1729) Anglo-Irish writer, journalist, playwright, politician
Essay (1709-11-02), The Tatler, No. 89
(Source)

Steele, Richard -- Essay (1710-02-06), The Tatler, No. 130

Dave — Tue, 25 Jun 2013 15:59:50 +0000

Methinks a Man cannot, without a secret Satisfaction, consider the Glory of the present Age, which will shine as bright as any other in the History of Mankind. It is still big with great Events, and has already produced Changes and Revolutions which will be as much admired by Posterity, as any that have happened in the Days of our Fathers, or in the old Times before them.

Richard Steele (1672–1729) Anglo-Irish writer, journalist, playwright, politician
Essay (1710-02-06), The Tatler, No. 130
(Source)

Steele, Richard -- Essay (1710-03-22), The Tatler, No. 149

Dave — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 13:14:55 +0000

It has often been a solid Grief to me, when I have reflected on this glorious Nation, which is the Scene of publick Happiness and Liberty, that there are still Crowds of private Tyrants, against whom there neither is any Law now in Being, nor can there be invented any by the Wit of Man. These cruel Men are ill-natured husbands.

Richard Steele (1672–1729) Anglo-Irish writer, journalist, playwright, politician
Essay (1710-03-22), The Tatler, No. 149
(Source)

Steele, Richard -- Essay (1710-07-27), The Tatler, No. 203

Dave — Wed, 12 Feb 2025 18:28:16 +0000

It was very prettily said, that we may learn the little value of fortune by the persons on whom Heaven is pleased to bestow it.

Richard Steele (1672–1729) Anglo-Irish writer, journalist, playwright, politician
Essay (1710-07-27), The Tatler, No. 203
(Source)

Steele, Richard -- Essay (1710-08-07), The Tatler, No. 208

Dave — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 07:44:24 +0000

Praise from an enemy is the most pleasing of all commendations.

Richard Steele (1672–1729) Anglo-Irish writer, journalist, playwright, politician
Essay (1710-08-07), The Tatler, No. 208
(Source)

Steele, Richard -- Essay (1711-03-01), The Spectator, No. 2

Dave — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 13:06:43 +0000

It is a civil Cowardice to be backward in asserting what you ought to expect, as it is a military Fear to be slow in attacking when it is your Duty.

Richard Steele (1672–1729) Anglo-Irish writer, journalist, playwright, politician
Essay (1711-03-01), The Spectator, No. 2
(Source)

A comment by "Captain Sentry."

Steele, Richard -- Essay (1711-04-26), The Spectator, No. 49

Dave — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 13:31:43 +0000

It is a Secret known but to a few, yet of no small use in the Conduct of Life, that when you fall into a Man’s Conversation, the first thing you should consider is, whether he has a greater Inclination to hear you, or that you should hear him.

Richard Steele (1672–1729) Anglo-Irish writer, journalist, playwright, politician
Essay (1711-04-26), The Spectator, No. 49
(Source)

Steele, Richard -- Essay (1711-12-03), The Spectator, No. 238

Dave — Tue, 14 May 2013 13:09:01 +0000

Among all the diseases of the mind there is not one more epidemical or more pernicious than the love of flattery.

Richard Steele (1672–1729) Anglo-Irish writer, journalist, playwright, politician
Essay (1711-12-03), The Spectator, No. 238
(Source)

Steele, Richard -- Essay (1711-12-03), The Spectator, No. 238

Dave — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 20:24:17 +0000

A good name is fitly compared to a precious ointment, and when we are praised with skill and decency, it is indeed the most agreeable perfume: but if too strongly admitted into a brain of a less vigorous and happy texture, it will, like too strong and odour, overcome the senses, and prove pernicious to those nerves it was intended to refresh.

Richard Steele (1672–1729) Anglo-Irish writer, journalist, playwright, politician
Essay (1711-12-03), The Spectator, No. 238
(Source)

The comparison is in the Bible, Ecclesiastes 7:1.

Steele, Richard -- Essay (1712-09-09), The Spectator, No. 479

Dave — Tue, 28 May 2013 13:09:37 +0000

The married state, with and without the affection suitable to it, is the completest image of heaven and hell we are capable of receiving in this life.

Richard Steele (1672–1729) Anglo-Irish writer, journalist, playwright, politician
Essay (1712-09-09), The Spectator, No. 479
(Source)

Steele, Richard -- Essay (1713-04-08), The Guardian No. 24

Dave — Mon, 10 Nov 2014 13:22:29 +0000

Whenever you commend, add your reasons for doing so; it is this which distinguishes the approbation of a man of sense from the flattery of sycophants and admiration of fools.

Richard Steele (1672–1729) Anglo-Irish writer, journalist, playwright, politician
Essay (1713-04-08), The Guardian No. 24
(Source)

Steele, Richard -- Essay (1713-04-09), The Guardian, No. 25

Dave — Mon, 10 Aug 2026 21:26:21 +0000

The prevailing humour of crying up authors that have writ in the days of our forefathers, and of passing slightly over the merit of our contemporaries, is a grievance that men of a free and unprejudiced thought have complained of through all ages in their writings.

Richard Steele (1672–1729) Anglo-Irish writer, journalist, playwright, politician
Essay (1713-04-09), The Guardian, No. 25
(Source)

Steele, Richard -- Letter (1708-09-27) to Mary “Prue” Scurlock Steele

Dave — Tue, 07 May 2013 13:42:23 +0000

I am, dear Prue a little in Drink but at all times
Y^r Faithfull Husband

Richard Steele (1672–1729) Anglo-Irish writer, journalist, playwright, politician
Letter (1708-09-27) to Mary “Prue” Scurlock Steele
(Source)

Over the course of his courting of and marriage (1707) to his second wife, whom he nicknamed "Prue," Steele wrote her more than 400 letters.