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William Hazlitt

52 quotes

William Hazlitt (1778–1830) was an English essayist, drama and literary critic, and philosopher. Regarded as one of the greatest critics and essayists in the English language, Hazlitt wrote with passionate conviction on art, literature, politics, and the pleasures and frustrations of everyday life.

“A gentle word, a kind look, a good-natured smile can work wonders and accomplish miracles.”

— William Hazlitt

Smile

All Quotes by William Hazlitt

“Poetry is the universal language which the heart holds with nature and itself. He who has a contempt for poetry, cannot have much respect for himself, or for anything else.”

— William Hazlitt

Nature

“Prosperity is a great teacher adversity a greater.”

— William Hazlitt

Teacher

“The seat of knowledge is in the head of wisdom, in the heart. We are sure to judge wrong, if we do not feel right.”

— William Hazlitt

Knowledge

“A wise traveler never despises his own country.”

— William Hazlitt

Travel

“The most insignificant people are the most apt to sneer at others. They are safe from reprisals. And have no hope of rising in their own self esteem but by lowering their neighbors.”

— William Hazlitt

Hope

“The incentive to ambition is the love of power.”

— William Hazlitt

Power

“A gentle word, a kind look, a good-natured smile can work wonders and accomplish miracles.”

— William Hazlitt

Smile

“The dupe of friendship, and the fool of love have I not reason to hate and to despise myself? Indeed I do and chiefly for not having hated and despised the world enough.”

— William Hazlitt

Friendship

“A hypocrite despises those whom he deceives, but has no respect for himself. He would make a dupe of himself too, if he could.”

— William Hazlitt

Respect

“The world judge of men by their ability in their profession, and we judge of ourselves by the same test: for it is on that on which our success in life depends.”

— William Hazlitt

Success

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

— William Hazlitt

Wisdom

“There is a secret pride in every human heart that revolts at tyranny. You may order and drive an individual, but you cannot make him respect you.”

— William Hazlitt

Respect

“The love of liberty is the love of others the love of power is the love of ourselves.”

— William Hazlitt

Power

“I would like to spend the whole of my life traveling, if I could anywhere borrow another life to spend at home.”

— William Hazlitt

Home

“We are very much what others think of us. The reception our observations meet with gives us courage to proceed, or damps our efforts.”

— William Hazlitt

Courage

“A grave blockhead should always go about with a lively one - they show one another off to the best advantage.”

— William Hazlitt

Best

“Life is the art of being well deceived and in order that the deception may succeed it must be habitual and uninterrupted.”

— William Hazlitt

Art

“There are no rules for friendship. It must be left to itself. We cannot force it any more than love.”

— William Hazlitt

Friendship

“Learning is its own exceeding great reward.”

— William Hazlitt

Learning

“If you think you can win, you can win. Faith is necessary to victory.”

— William Hazlitt

Faith