Charles Caleb Colton Quotes - Page 3

• For one man who sincerely pities our misfortunes, there are a thousand who sincerely hate our success.

  Charles Caleb Colton

  Success, Hate, Men

  Charles Caleb Colton (1824). “Lacon, Or, Many Things in a Few Words: Addressed to Those who Think”, p.216

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• A house may draw visitors, but it is the possessor alone that can detain them.

  Charles Caleb Colton

  Home, House, May

  Philip Dormer Stanhope (4th earl of Chesterfield.), Charles Caleb Colton (1861). “Lord Chesterfield's advice to his son on men and manners. To which are added, selections from Colton's 'Lacon'.”, p.184

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• Let us not be too prodigal when we are young, nor too parsimonious when we are old. Otherwise we shall fall into the common error of those, who, when they had the power to enjoy, had not the prudence to acquire; and when they had the prudence to acquire, had no longer the power to enjoy.

  Charles Caleb Colton

  Fall, Errors, Common

  Charles Caleb Colton (1824). “Lacon, Or, Many Things in a Few Words: Addressed to Those who Think”, p.52

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• Attempts at reform, when they fail, strengthen despotism, as he that struggles tightens those cords he does not succeed in breaking.

  Charles Caleb Colton

  Struggle, Succeed, Revolution

  Charles Caleb Colton (1832). “Lacon: Or Many Things in Few Words, Addressed to Those who Think”, p.204

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• To cure us of our immoderate love of gain, we should seriously consider how many goods there are that money will not purchase, and these the best; and how many evils there are that money will not remedy, and these the worst.

  Charles Caleb Colton

  Money, Evil, Gains

  Charles Caleb Colton (1828). “Lacon: Or Many Things in Few Words Addressed to Those who Think”, p.191

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• Ignorance is a blank sheet, on which we may write; but error is a scribbled one, on which we must first erase.

  Charles Caleb Colton

  Mistake, Writing, Ignorance

  Charles Caleb Colton (1836). “Lacon: Or, Many Things in Few Words, Addressed to Those who Think”, p.17

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• Nothing more completely baffles one who is full of trick and duplicity himself, than straight forward and simple integrity in another.

  Charles Caleb Colton

  Truth, Honesty, Integrity

  "Lacon: Or Many Things in Few Words, Addressed to Those who Think".

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• There are two way of establishing a reputation, one to be praised by honest people and the other to be accused by rogues. It is best, however, to secure the first one, because it will always be accompanied by the latter.

  Charles Caleb Colton

  Two, People, Way

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• There are three modes of bearing the ills of life; by indifference, which is the most common; by philosophy, which is the most ostentatious; and by religion, which is the most effectual.

  Charles Caleb Colton

  Philosophy, Three, Literature

  "Lacon: Or Many Things in Few Words, Addressed to Those who Think".

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• Great men, like comets, are eccentric in their courses, and formed to do extensive good by modes unintelligible to vulgar minds.

  Charles Caleb Colton

  Greatness, Men, Mind

  Charles Caleb Colton (1824). “Lacon, Or, Many Things in a Few Words: Addressed to Those who Think”, p.130

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• Imitation is the highest form of flattery.

  Charles Caleb Colton

  Inspirational, Flattery, Imitation

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• 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.

  Charles Caleb Colton

  Freedom, Blessing, People

  Charles Caleb Colton (1832). “Lacon: Or Many Things in Few Words, Addressed to Those who Think”

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• There are two principles of established acceptance in morals; first, that self-interest is the mainspring of all of our actions, and secondly, that utility is the test of their value.

  Charles Caleb Colton

  Acceptance, Self, Two

  "Lacon: Or, Many Things in Few Words: Addressed to Those who Think". Book by Charles Caleb Colton, 1820.

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• The man of pleasure, by a vain attempt to be more happy than any man can be, is often more miserable than most men are.

  Charles Caleb Colton

  Men, Miserable, Pleasure

  Charles Caleb Colton (1836). “Lacon: Or, Many Things in Few Words, Addressed to Those who Think”, p.108

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• Next to acquiring good friends, the best acquisition is that of good books.

  Charles Caleb Colton

  Book, Healing, Good Friend

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• Pure truth, like pure gold, has been found unfit for circulation because men have discovered that it is far more convenient to adulterate the truth than to refine themselves.

  Charles Caleb Colton

  Truth, Fear, Men

  Charles Caleb Colton (1836). “Lacon: Or, Many Things in Few Words, Addressed to Those who Think”, p.367

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• Pleasure is to women what the sun is to the flower; if moderately enjoyed, it beautifies, it refreshes, and it improves; if immoderately, it withers, deteriorates and destroys.

  Charles Caleb Colton

  Women, Flower, Sun

  Charles Caleb Colton (1836). “Lacon: Or, Many Things in Few Words, Addressed to Those who Think”, p.85

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• Eloquence is the language of nature, and cannot be learned in the schools; but rhetoric is the creature of art, which he who feels least will most excel in.

  Charles Caleb Colton

  Art, School, Speech

  Charles Caleb Colton (1832). “Lacon: Or Many Things in Few Words, Addressed to Those who Think”, p.203

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• Some read to think, these are rare; some to write, these are common; and some read to talk, and these form the great majority.

  Charles Caleb Colton

  Book, Reading, Writing

  Charles Caleb Colton (1824). “Lacon, Or, Many Things in a Few Words: Addressed to Those who Think”, p.235

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• Hope is a prodigal young heir, and experience is his banker.

  Charles Caleb Colton

  Hope, Expectations, Bankers

  Charles Caleb Colton (1836). “Lacon: Or, Many Things in Few Words, Addressed to Those who Think”, p.72

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• That which we acquire with the most difficulty we retain the longest; as those who have earned a fortune are usually more careful of it than those who have inherited one.

  Charles Caleb Colton

  Fortune, Difficulty, Careful

  Charles Caleb Colton (1824). “Lacon, Or, Many Things in a Few Words: Addressed to Those who Think”, p.234

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• The more gross the fraud the more glibly will it go down, and the more greedily be swallowed, since folly will always find faith where impostors will find imprudence.

  Charles Caleb Colton

  Down And, Fraud, Gross

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• Commerce flourishes by circumstances, precarious, transitory, contingent, almost as the winds and waves that bring it to our shores.

  Charles Caleb Colton

  Wind, Literature, Wave

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• When the frustration of my helplessness seemed greatest, I discovered God's grace was more than sufficient. And after my imprisonment, I could look back and see how God used my powerlessness for His purpose. What He has chosen for my most significant witness was not my triumphs or victories, but my defeat.

  Charles Caleb Colton

  Frustration, Power, Grace

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• Theories are private property, but truth is common stock.

  Charles Caleb Colton

  Truth, Business, Common

  Lacon: or many things in a few words (p. 189)

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