James Burgh Quotes

44 Sourced Quotes

Nothing is more unmannerly than to reflect on any man's profession, sect, or natural infirmity. He who stirs up against himself another's self-love, provokes the strongest passion in human nature.

James Burgh
In prosperity prepare for a change; in adversity hope for one.

James Burgh
If a favour is asked of you, grant it if you can. If not, refuse it in such a manner as that one denial may be sufficient.

James Burgh
Men repent speaking ten times, for once that they repent keeping silence.
It is an advantage to have concealed one's opinion; for by that means you may change your judgment of things (which every wise man fmds reason to do) and not be accused of fickleness.

James Burgh
There is an affected humility more unsufferable than downright pride, as hypocrisy is more abominable than libertimsm. Take care that your virtues be genuine and unsophisticated.

James Burgh
If you give a jest, take one.
Let all your jokes be truly jokes. Jesting sometimes ends in sad earnest.

James Burgh
If you happen into company where the talk runs into party, obscemty, scandal, folly, or vice of any kind, you had better pass for morose or unsocial, among people whose good opinion is not worth having, than shock your own conscience by joining in conversation which you must disapprove of.

James Burgh
What may be very entertaining in company with ignorant people may be tiresome to those who know more of the matter.

James Burgh
Be sure of the fact before you lose time in searching for a cause.

James Burgh
You need not tell all the truth, unless to those who have a right to know it all. But let all you tell be truth.

James Burgh
He who knows the world will not be too bashful. He who knows himself will not be impudent.

James Burgh
Deep learning will make you acceptable to the learned; but it is only an obliging and easy behaviour, and entertaining conversation, that will make you agreeable to all companies.

James Burgh
If you have seen a man misbehave once, do not from thence conclude him a fool; if you find he has been in a mistake in one particular, do not at once conclude him void of understanding : by that way of judging, you can entertain a favourable opinion of no man upon earth, nor even of yourself.

James Burgh
There is no method more likely to cure passion and rashness, than the frequent and attentive consideration of one's own weaknesses: this will work into the mind an habitual sense of the need one has of being pardoned, and will bring down the swelling pride and obstinacy of heart, which are the cause of hasty passion.

James Burgh
If you have a friend that will reprove your faults and foibles, consider you enjoy a blessing which the king upon the throne cannot have.

James Burgh
Learning is like bank-notes: prudence and good behaviour are like silver, useful upon all occasions.

James Burgh
Love your fellow creature, though vicious. Hate vice in the friend you love the most.

James Burgh
To offer advice to an angry man, is like blowing against a tempest.

James Burgh
Value truth, however you come by it. Who would not pick up a jewel that lay on a dunghill?

James Burgh