George Savile, 1st Marquess of Halifax Quotes

78 Sourced Quotes

Children and fools want everything, because they want wit to distinguish; there is no stronger evidence of a crazy understanding than the making too large a catalogue of things necessary.

George Savile, 1st Marquess of Halifax
Malice is of a low Stature, but it hath very long Arms. It often reacheth into the next World, Death itself is not a Bar to it.

George Savile, 1st Marquess of Halifax
It is not a reproach but a compliment to learning, to say, that great scholars are less fit for business; since the truth is, business is so much a lower thing than learning, that a man used to the last cannot easily bring his stomach down to the first.

George Savile, 1st Marquess of Halifax
Laws are generally not understood by three sorts of persons, viz. by those who make them, by those who execute them, and by those who suffer, if they break them.

George Savile, 1st Marquess of Halifax
Half the Truth is often as arrant a Lye, as can be made.

George Savile, 1st Marquess of Halifax
The vanity of teaching often tempteth a Man to forget he is a Blockhead.

George Savile, 1st Marquess of Halifax
The sight of a drunkard is a better sermon against that vice than the best that was ever preached on that subject.

George Savile, 1st Marquess of Halifax
A very great Memory often forgetteth how much Time is lost by repeating things of no Use.

George Savile, 1st Marquess of Halifax
Remember that Children and Fools want every thing because they want Wit to distinguish: and therefore there is no stronger Evidence of a Crazy Understanding, than the making too large a Catalogue of things necessary, when in truth there are so very few things that have a right to be placed in it.

George Savile, 1st Marquess of Halifax
Hope is generally a wrong Guide, though it is very good Company by the way. It brusheth through Hedge and Ditch till it cometh to a great Leap, and there it is apt to fall and break its Bones.

George Savile, 1st Marquess of Halifax
Our nature hardly allows us to have enough of anything without having too much.

George Savile, 1st Marquess of Halifax
State business is a cruel trade; good nature is a bungler in it.

George Savile, 1st Marquess of Halifax
The best way to suppose what may come, is to remember what is past.

George Savile, 1st Marquess of Halifax
A Man may so overdo it in looking too far before him, that he may stumble the more for it.

George Savile, 1st Marquess of Halifax
Men who borrow their Opinions can never repay their Debts. They are Beggars by Nature, and can therefore never get a Stock to grow rich upon.

George Savile, 1st Marquess of Halifax
Love is a Passion that hath Friends in the Garrison.

George Savile, 1st Marquess of Halifax
It is a general Mistake to think the Men we like are good for every thing, and those we do not, good for nothing.

George Savile, 1st Marquess of Halifax
Most Mens' Anger about Religion is as if two Men should quarrel for a Lady they neither of them care for.

George Savile, 1st Marquess of Halifax
Our virtues and vices couple with one another, and get children that resemble both of their parents.

George Savile, 1st Marquess of Halifax
The struggling for knowledge hath a pleasure in it like that of wrestling with a fine woman.

George Savile, 1st Marquess of Halifax
Malice, like Lust, when it is at the Height, doth not know Shame.

George Savile, 1st Marquess of Halifax
A Little Learning misleadeth, and a great deal often stupifieth the Understanding.

George Savile, 1st Marquess of Halifax
Misspending a man's time is a kind of self-homicide.

George Savile, 1st Marquess of Halifax
When the People contend for their Liberty, they seldom get any thing by their Victory but new Masters.

George Savile, 1st Marquess of Halifax
Suspicion seldom wanteth Food to keep it up in Health and Vigour. It feedeth upon every thing it seeth, and is not curious in its Diet.

George Savile, 1st Marquess of Halifax
A Man is to go about his own Business as if he had not a Friend in the World to help him in it.

George Savile, 1st Marquess of Halifax
It is Ill-manners to silence a Fool, and Cruelty to let him go on.

George Savile, 1st Marquess of Halifax
Men take more pains to hide than to mend themselves.

George Savile, 1st Marquess of Halifax
The best definition of the best government is, that it has no inconveniences but such as are supportable; but inconveniences there must be.

George Savile, 1st Marquess of Halifax
Power is so apt to be insolent and Liberty to be saucy, that they are very seldom upon good terms.

George Savile, 1st Marquess of Halifax