Lacon: Or, Many Things in Few Words: Address--to Those who Think

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W. Gowans, 1849 - Aphorisms and apothegms - 504 pages

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Page 396 - And conceiving God to be the fountain of wisdom, I thought it right and necessary to solicit his assistance for obtaining it ; to this end I formed the following little prayer, which was prefixed to my tables of examination, for daily use.
Page 393 - Slave of the mine, thy yellow light Gleams baleful as the tomb-fire drear. A gentle vision comes by night My lonely widowed heart to cheer : Her eyes are dim with many a tear, That once were guiding stars to mine : Her fond heart throbs with many a fear ! I cannot bear to see thee shine. For thee, for thee, vile yellow slave...
Page ix - That writer does the most, who gives his reader the most knowledge, and takes from him the least time.
Page 99 - I saw you last ; by no means, replied the sculptor, I have retouched this part, and polished that; I have softened this feature, and brought out this muscle ; I have given more expression to this lip and more energy to this limb : Well, well, said his friend, but all these are trifles ; it may be so, replied Angelo, but recollect that trifles make perfection, and that perfection is no trifle.
Page 420 - 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.
Page 330 - Is there any principle in all nature more mysterious than the union of soul with body; by which a supposed spiritual substance acquires such an influence over a material one, that the most refined thought is able to actuate the grossest matter? Were we empowered, by a secret wish, to remove mountains, or control the planets in their orbit; this extensive authority would not be more extraordinary, nor more beyond our comprehension.
Page 188 - A weak man in office, like a squirrel in a cage, is laboring eternally, but to no purpose, and in constant motion without getting on a jot; like a turnstile, he is in everybody's way, but stops nobody; he talks a great deal, but says very little; looks into everything, but sees into nothing; and has a hundred irons in the fire, but very few of them are hot, and with those few that are he only burns his fingers.
Page 113 - As to that which formed the burden of the beast, the busy ants informed me that it was corn on the one side, and the clustering flies that it was honey on the other.
Page 121 - There are two modes of establishing our reputation : to be praised by honest men, and to be abused by rogues.— It is best, however, to secure the former, because it will invariably be accompanie d by the latter.
Page 138 - Doubt is the vestibule which all must pass, before they can enter into the temple of wisdom...

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