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Richard Steele
110quotes
Full Name and Common Aliases
Richard Steele was a prominent English writer and politician who lived during the late 17th and early 18th centuries.
Birth and Death Dates
He was born on March 12, 1638, in Dublin, Ireland. Richard Steele passed away on September 1, 1722, at the age of 84, in London, England.
Nationality and Profession(s)
Richard Steele held dual nationality as both an Englishman and an Irishman, although he spent most of his life in England. His professions included writer, playwright, poet, politician, and editor.
Early Life and Background
Born to a family of modest means, Richard Steele studied at Trinity College in Dublin before moving to England in 1659. There, he became involved in politics and started writing for the press, eventually contributing to numerous periodicals, including The Tatler and The Spectator. This background would later shape his notable works.
Major Accomplishments
Richard Steele's most significant contribution was his work as a writer and editor of influential publications like The Tatler (1709-1711) and The Spectator (1711-1712). These periodicals were groundbreaking in their time, covering various topics such as politics, literature, and social issues. His writing focused on improving the manners of society by exposing its vices and advocating for moral reform.
Notable Works or Actions
Richard Steele's notable works include:
The Tatler: A pioneering publication that tackled societal problems through satire and humor.
The Spectator: A magazine that offered insightful commentary on politics, culture, and social issues of the time. Its impact was significant in shaping public opinion.
Impact and Legacy
Richard Steele's writings had a lasting effect on English literature and journalism. His contributions to The Tatler and The Spectator not only reflected the intellectual and cultural spirit of his era but also provided a platform for discussing pressing issues of the day. He is remembered as one of the most influential writers of his time, with an enduring legacy in the world of literature.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Richard Steele's lasting influence can be attributed to his tireless efforts to educate and enlighten his readers through engaging storytelling and biting satire. His commitment to improving society through written words has inspired generations of writers, thinkers, and reformers.
Quotes by Richard Steele
Richard Steele's insights on:
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Pride destroys all symmetry and grace, and affectation is a more terrible enemy to fine faces than the smallpox.
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Modesty never rages, never murmurs, never pout; when it is ill-treated, it pines, it beseeches, it languishes.
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Tradition is not a fetish to he prayed to— but a useful record of experiences. Time should bring improvement—but not all old things are worthless. We are served by both the moderns and the ancients. The balanced man is he who clings to the best in the old—and appropriates the desirable in the new.
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The person whom you favoured with a loan, if he be a good man, will think himself in your debt after he has paid you.
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A true and genuine impudence is ever the effect of ignorance, without the least sense of it.
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To be exempt from the Passions with which others are tormented, is the only pleasing Solitude.
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I look upon it as a Point of Morality, to be obliged by those who endeavour to oblige me.
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The world is grown so full of dissimulation and compliment, that men’s words are hardly any signification of their thoughts.
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It is a secret known but to few, yet of no small use in the conduct of life, that when you fall into a man’s conversation, the first thing you should consider is, whether he has a greater inclination to hear you, or that you should hear him.
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