William Hazlitt Sayings and Quotes

Below you will find our collection of inspirational, wise, and humorous old William Hazlitt quotes, William Hazlitt sayings, and William Hazlitt proverbs, collected over the years from a variety of sources.'

No man is truly great who is great only in his lifetime. The test of greatness is the page of history. William Hazlitt
No one ever approaches perfection except by stealth, and unknown to themselves. William Hazlitt
A gentleman is one who understands and shows every mark of deference to the claims of self-love in others, and exacts it in return from them. William Hazlitt
A gentle word, a kind look, a good-natured smile can work wonders and accomplish miracles. William Hazlitt
Comedy naturally wears itself out destroys the very food on which it lives; and by constantly and successfully exposing the follies and weaknesses of mankind to ridicule, in the end leaves itself nothing worth laughing at. William Hazlitt
There is no one thoroughly despicable. We cannot descend much lower than an idiot; and an idiot has some advantages over a wise man. William Hazlitt
There is nothing good to be had in the country, or, if there be, they will not let you have it. William Hazlitt
Modesty is the lowest of the virtues, and is a real confession of the deficiency it indicates. He who undervalues himself is justly undervalued by others. William Hazlitt
No truly great person ever thought themselves so. William Hazlitt
The way to secure success is to be more anxious about obtaining than about deserving it. William Hazlitt
Books let us into their souls and lay open to us the secrets of our own. William Hazlitt
Everything is in motion. Everything flows. Everything is vibrating. William Hazlitt
Those who make their dress a principal part of themselves will, in general, become of no more value than their dress. William Hazlitt
The best kind of conversation is that which may be called thinking aloud. William Hazlitt
The more we do, the more we can do; the more busy we are, the more leisure we have. William Hazlitt
Few things tend more to alienate friendship than a want of punctuality in our engagements. I have known the breach of a promise to dine or sup to break up more than one intimacy. William Hazlitt
Reflection makes men cowards. William Hazlitt
Popularity is neither fame nor greatness. William Hazlitt
Conceit is the most contemptible and one of the most odious qualities in the world. It is vanity driven from all other shifts, and forced to appeal to itself for admiration. William Hazlitt
We find many things to which the prohibition of them constitutes the only temptation. William Hazlitt
Conceit is vanity driven from all other shifts, and forced to appeal to itself for admiration. William Hazlitt
The contemplation of truth and beauty is the proper object for which we were created, which calls forth the most intense desires of the soul, and of which it never tires. William Hazlitt
Landscape painting is the obvious resource of misanthropy. William Hazlitt
A gentle word, a kind look, a good-natured smile can work wonders and accomplish miracles. William Hazlitt
The contemplation of truth and beauty is the proper object for which we were created, which calls forth the most intense desires of the soul, and of which it never tires. William Hazlitt
People addicted to secrecy are so without knowing why; they are not so for cause, but for secrecy's sake. William Hazlitt
Cunning is the art of concealing our own defects, and discovering other people's weaknesses. William Hazlitt
Cunning is natural to mankind. It is the sense of our weakness, and an attempt to effect by concealment what we cannot do openly and by force. William Hazlitt
We often repent the good we have done as well as the ill. William Hazlitt
The insolence of the vulgar is in proportion to their ignorance. They treat everything with contempt which they do not understand. William Hazlitt