Transcriber's Notes: Words surrounded by underscores are in italics in the original.

Variations in spelling and hyphenation have been left as in the original. Some typographical and punctuation errors have been corrected. A complete list follows the text.

A row of five asterisks surrounded by blank lines represents a thought break. All other asterisks indicate ellipses. Ellipses match the original.

Table of Contents was added by the Transcriber.

LIFE

AND

LITERATURE

OVER TWO THOUSAND EXTRACTS FROM ANCIENT AND MODERN WRITERS, AND CLASSIFIED IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER

J. PURVER RICHARDSON.

PRESS OF BROWN-MORRISON CO. LYNCHBURG, VA.

PREFACE

Good sir, or madam, whosoever thou mayest be, to whom this volume shall come, cast it not aside, but read it. Its quaint, curious, and helpful selections have been gathered through many years of careful research on both sides of the Atlantic. They will make thee wiser and better, and will conduce to the growth of thy mind, and the health of thy body. Let this book be to thee a magazine of literary food, of which thou shalt partake, and which thou shalt assimilate and digest to the constant increase of thy well being.

The gathering of this bouquet of literary gems has been a work of pleasure, but the compiler shall say nothing of himself for, "the least that one can say of himself is still too much."

DEDICATED

AFFECTIONATELY

MY CHILDREN

JOHN PURVER AND ANNIE SUE,

AND

"To mine own People: meaning those within The magic ring of home--my kith and kin;

And those with whom my soul delights to dwell-- Who walk with me as friends, and wish me well;

And lastly, those--a large unnumbered band, Unknown to me--who read and understand."

CONTENTS

PAGE PREFACE 3 Letter A 7 Letter B 27 Letter C 46 Letter D 99 Letter E 112 Letter F 119 Letter G 148 Letter H 168 Letter I 199 Letter J 210 Letter K 213 Letter L 220 Letter M 248 Letter N 295 Letter O 300 Letter P 306 Letter Q 332 Letter R 333 Letter S 344 Letter T 379 Letter U 399 Letter V 400 Letter W 402 Letter Y 433 Letter Z 435 INDEX 437

LIFE AND LITERATURE

Abilities--No man's abilities are so remarkably shining, as not to stand in need of a proper opportunity, a patron, and even the praises of a friend, to recommend them to the notice of the world.

--Pliny.

Absence, with all its pains, Is by this charming moment wip'd away.

Abuse is the weapon of the vulgar.

--Goodrich.

It is told of Admiral Collingwood that on his travels he carried a bag of acorns, and dropped one wherever there seemed a likely spot for an oak to grow, that England might never lack ships.

--English Newspaper.

Acquaintances--It is easy to make acquaintances, but sometimes difficult to shake them off, however irksome and unprofitable they are found, after we have once committed ourselves to them.

Acquaintance softens prejudices.

Many persons I once thought great, dwindle into very small dimensions, on a short acquaintance.

--Bacon.

Speak out in acts, the time for words Has passed, and deeds alone suffice.

--Shakespeare.

All may do what has by Man been done.

--Young.

An act, by which we make one friend, and one enemy, is a losing game; because revenge is a much stronger principle than gratitude.

All the world practices the art of acting.

--Petronius Arbiter.

Do what you can, when you cannot do what you would.

A good action performed in this world receives its recompense in the other, just as water poured at the root of a tree appears again above in fruit and flower.

If the world were to see our real motives, we should be ashamed of some of our best actions.

Our actions are our own; their consequences belong to Heaven.

--Francis.

What thou intendest to do, speak not of, before thou doest it.

There is as much eloquence in the tone of voice, in the eyes, and in the air of a speaker, as in his choice of words.

--Rochefoucauld.

Actions--What I must do, is all that concerns me, and not what people think.

--Emerson.

An actor, when asked by the Archbishop of Canterbury why actors were more successful in impressing their auditors than preachers, replied, "Actors speak of things imaginary as if they were real, while you preachers too often speak of things real as if they were imaginary."

ON LEAVING, AFTER A SHORT VISIT.

She gazed as I slowly withdrew; My path I could hardly discern; So sweetly she bade me "adieu," I thought that she bade me return.

--W. Shenstone.

Adversity is sometimes hard upon a man; but for one man who can stand prosperity, there are a hundred that will stand adversity.

--Carlyle.

Adversity does not take from us our true friends; it only disperses those who pretended to be so.

Adversity has the effect of eliciting talents, which, in prosperous circumstances, would have lain dormant.

--Horace.

He who never was acquainted with adversity, has seen the world but on one side, and is ignorant of half the scenes of nature.

In prosperity the proud man knows nobody; in adversity nobody knows him.

--From Scottish-American.

The finest friendships have been formed in mutual adversity.

--Latin.

It is a disingenuous thing to ask for advice, when you mean assistance; and it will be a just punishment if you get that which you pretended to want.

--Sir A. Helps.

Before giving advice we must have secured its acceptance, or rather, have made it desired.

--Amiel.

There is nothing more difficult than the art of making advice agreeable.

Every man, however wise, sometimes requires the advice of a friend in the affairs of life.

--Plautus.

He who gives advice to a self-conceited man, stands himself in need of counsel.

Pouring water on a duck's back. (Fruitless counsel or advice).

--Chinese.

Most people, when they come to you for advice, come to have their own opinions strengthened, not corrected.

CLERICAL AFFECTATION.

In man or woman, but far most in man, And most of all in man that ministers And serves the altar, in my soul I loathe All affectation. 'Tis my perfect scorn; Object of my implacable disgust. What! Will a man play tricks, will he indulge A silly fond conceit of his fair form And just proportion, fashionable mien, And pretty face, in presence of his God? Or will he seek to dazzle me with tropes, As with the diamond on his lily hand, And play his brilliant parts before my eyes When I am hungry for the bread of life? He mocks his Maker, prostitutes and shames His noble office, and, instead of truth, Displaying his own beauty, starves his flock.

--Cowper.

The Cure of Affectation--Is to follow nature. If every one would do this, affectation would be almost unknown.

--J. Beaumont.

Affectation of any kind, is lighting up a candle to our defects.

--Locke.

Affectation is the vain and ridiculous attempt of poverty to appear rich.

--Lavater.

How sad to notice in one--changed affections, A cold averted eye.

--Observer.

AFFLICTION.

Be still, sad heart, and cease repining, Behind the clouds the sun is shining; Thy fate is the common fate of all; Into each life some rain must fall--, Some days must be dark and dreary.

--Longfellow.

Affliction--For every sort of suffering there is sleep provided by a gracious Providence, save that of sin.

--J. Wilson.

Affliction's sons are brothers in distress; A brother to relieve, how exquisite the bliss!

--Burns.

Affronts--Young men soon give, and soon forget affronts; old age is slow in both.

--Addison.

Old age is a joy, when youth has been well spent.

THE APPROACH OF AGE.

Six years had passed, and forty ere the six, When time began to play his usual tricks; The locks once comely in a virgin's sight, Locks of pure brown, displayed the encroaching white; The blood, once fervid, now to cool began, And Time's strong pressure to subdue the man. I rode or walked as I was wont before, But now the bounding spirit was no more; A moderate pace would now my body heat, A walk of moderate length distress my feet. I showed my stranger guest those hills sublime, But said, "The view is poor, we need not climb." At a friend's mansion I began to dread The cold neat parlor and gay glazed bed; At home I felt a more decided taste, And must have all things in my order placed. I ceased to hunt; my horses pleased me less-- My dinner more; I learned to play at chess. I took my dog and gun, but saw the brute Was disappointed that I did not shoot. My morning walks I now could bear to lose, And blessed the shower that gave me not to choose. In fact, I felt a languor stealing on; The active arm, the agile hand, were gone; Small daily actions into habits grew, And new dislike to forms and fashions new. I loved my trees in order to dispose; I numbered peaches, looked how stocks arose; Told the same story oft--in short, began to prose.

Life and Literature

PREFACE✦

PREFACE