259 Quotes by Henry Fielding

Adversity is the trial of principle. Without it, a man hardly knows whether he is honest or not.

The exceptions of the scrupulous put one in mind of some general pardons where everything is forgiven except crimes.

Since I have dealt in suds, I could never discover more than two reasons for shaving; the one is to get a beard, the other is to get rid of one

It is an error common to many to take the character of mankind from the worst and basest amongst them; whereas, as an excellent writer has observed, nothing should be esteemed as characteristical, of a species but what is to be found amongst the best and the most perfect individuals of that species.

Never trust the man who hath reason to suspect that you know he hath injured you.

We should not be too hasty in bestowing either our praise or censure on mankind, since we shall often find such a mixture of good and evil in the same character, that it may require a very accurate judgment and a very elaborate inquiry to determine on which side the balance turns.

I have found it; I have discovered the cause of all the misfortunes which befell him. A public school, Joseph, was the cause of all the calamities which he afterwards suffered. Public schools are the nurseries of all vice and immorality.

We must eat to live and live to eat

Good writers will, indeed, do well to imitate the ingenious traveller. . .who always proportions his stay in any place.