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Laurence Sterne Biography

Laurence Sterne

Laurence Sterne (24 November 1713 – 18 March 1768) was an Irish novelist and an Anglican clergyman. He wrote the novels The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman and A Sentimental Journey Through France and Italy, and also published many sermons, wrote memoirs, and was involved in local politics. Sterne died in London after years of fighting consumption.

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Laurence Sterne Quotes

There are some tempers--how shall I describe them--formed either of such impenetrable matter, or wrought up by habitual selfishness to such an utter insensibility of what becomes of the fortunes of their fellow-creatures, as if they were not partakers of the same nature, or had no lot or connection at all with the species.

Connections, Insensibility, Matter, Selfishness, Species, Wrought

An English man does not travel to see English men.

Doe, English, Men, See, Travel

I often derive a peculiar satisfaction in conversing with the ancient and modern dead, — who yet live and speak excellently in their works. My neighbors think me often alone, — and yet at such times I am in company with more than five hundred mutes — each of whom, at my pleasure, communicates his ideas to me by dumb signs — quite as intelligently as any person living can do by uttering of words.

Book, Conversing, Dead, Ideas, Peculiar, Thinking

A coward never forgives.

Coward, Forgiveness, Forgives, Forgiving

Every thing in this world, said my father, is big with jest,--and has wit in it, and instruction too,--if we can but find it out.

Education, Father, Knowledge, Said, Thing, Wit

It is curious to observe the triumph of slight incidents over the mind; and what incredible weight they have in forming and governing our opinions, both of men and things, that trifles light as air shall waft a belief into the soul, and plant it so immovable within it, that Euclid's demonstrations, could they be brought to batter it in breach, should not all have power to overthrow it!

Air, Brought, Incidents, Light, Men, Soul

The most accomplished way of using books is to serve them as some people do lords; learn their titles and then brag of their acquaintance.

Book, Lords, People, Titles, Way

There is a plain distinction to be made betwixt pleasure and happiness. For tho' there can be no happiness without pleasure--yet the converse of the proposition will not hold true. --We are so made, that from the common gratifications of our appetites, and the impressions of a thousand objects, we snatch the one, like a transient gleam, without being suffered to taste the other.

Gleam, Happiness, Objects, Plain, Proposition, Taste

But mark, madam, we live amongst riddles and mysteries--the most obvious things, which come in our way, have dark sides, which thequickest sight cannot penetrate into; and even the clearest and most exalted understandings amongst us find ourselves puzzled and at a loss in almost every cranny of nature's works.

Clearest, Dark, Exalted, Knowledge, Loss, Sight

When the heart flies out before the understanding, it saves the judgment a world of pains.

Heart, Judging, Judgment, Pain, Saves, World

So often has my judgment deceived me in my life, that I always suspect it, right or wrong,--at least I am seldom hot upon cold subjects. For all this, I reverence truth as much as any body; andif a man will but take me by the hand, and go quietly and search for itI'll go to the world's end with him:MBut I hate disputes.

Cold, Disputes, Hate, Men, Quietly, Truth

Great is the power of Eloquence; but never is it so great as when it pleads along with nature, and the culprit is a child strayed from his duty, and returned to it again with tears.

Child, Children, Culprit, Eloquence, Nature, Tears

Madness is consistent; which is more than can be said for poor reason. Whatever may be the ruling passion at the time continues equally so throughout the whole delirium, though it should last for life. Madmen are always constant in love; which no man in his senses ever was. Our passions and principles are steady in frenzy; but begin to shift and waver, as we return to reason.

Consistent, May, Men, Passion, Steady, Waver

We are born to trouble; and we may depend upon it, whilst we live in this world, we shall have it, though with intermissions.

Born, Live, May, Though, Trouble, World

In all unmerciful actions, the worst of men pay this compliment at least to humanity, as to endeavour to wear as much of the appearance of it, as the case will well let them.

Compliment, Humanity, Let, Literature, Men

The desire of knowledge, like the thirst of riches, increases ever with the acquisition of it.

Acquisition, Business, Education, Like, Motivational, Riches

Solitude is the best nurse of wisdom.

Loner, Nurse, Solitude, Wisdom

The chaste mind, like a polished plane, may admit foul thoughts, without receiving their tincture.

Chaste, Like, May, Mind, Plane, Receiving

Death opens the gate of fame, and shuts the gate of envy after it; it unlooses the chain of the captive, and puts the bondsman's task into another man's hand.

Death, Envy, Hand, Hands, Men, Unlooses

Is this a fit time, said my father to himself, to talk of Pensions and Grenadiers?

Father, Fit, Said, Talk, Time

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