Jane Porter Quotes

36 Sourced Quotes

A sincere acquaintance with ourselves teaches us humility; and from humility springs that benevolence which compassionates the transgressors we condemn, and prevents the punishments we inflict from themselves partaking of crime, in being rather the wreakings of revenge than the chastisements of virtue.

Jane Porter
People do not always understand the motives of sublime conduct, and when they are astonished they are very apt to think they ought to be alarmed The truth is none are fit judges of greatness but those who are capable of it.

Jane Porter
Bright was the summer of 1296. The war which had desolated Scotland was then at an end.

Jane Porter
We value the devotedness of friendship rather as an oblation to vanity than as a free interchange of hearts; an endearing contract of sympathy, mutual forbearance, and respect!

Jane Porter
Self-love leads men of narrow minds to measure all mankind by their own capacity.

Jane Porter
Our griefs, as well as our joys, owe their strongest colors to our imaginations. There is nothing so grievous to be borne that pondering upon it will not make it heavier; and there is no pleasure so vivid that the animation of fancy cannot liven it.

Jane Porter
The mob is a sort of bear; while your ring is through its nose, it will even dance under your cudgel; but should the ring slip, and you lose your hold, the brute will turn and rend you.

Jane Porter
That grief is the most durable which flows inward, and buries its streams with its fountain, in the depths of the heart.

Jane Porter
If cowardice were not so completely a coward as to be unable to look steadily upon the effects of courage, he would find that there is no refuge so sure as dauntless valor.

Jane Porter
Where there is any good disposition, confidence begets faithfulness; but distrust, if it do not produce treachery; never fails to destroy every inclination to evince fidelity. Most people disdain to clear themselves from the accusations of mere suspicion.

Jane Porter
The pure in heart are slow to credit calumnies, because they hardly comprehend what motives can be inducements to the alleged crimes.

Jane Porter
Virtue is despotic; life, reputation, every earthly good, must be surrendered at her voice. The law may seem hard, but it is the guardian of what it commands; and is the only sure defence of happiness.

Jane Porter
The platform or the altar of love may be analyzed and explained; it is constructed of virtue, beauty, and affection. Such is the pyre, such is the offering; but the ethereal spark must come from heaven, that lights the sacrifice.

Jane Porter
We all know that a lie needs no other grounds, than the invention of the liar; and to take for granted as truth, all that is alleged against the fame of others, is a species of credulity, that men would blush at on any other subject.

Jane Porter
Magnanimity is above circumstance; and any virtue which depends on that is more of constitution than of principle.

Jane Porter
The flatterer easily insinuates himself into the closet, while honest merit stands shivering in the hall or antechamber.

Jane Porter
It has been wisely said, "that well may thy guardian angel suffer thee to lose thy locks, when thou darest wilfully to lay thy head in the lap of temptation!" Was it not easier for the hero of Judaea to avoid the touch of the fair Philistine, than to elude her power when held in her arms?

Jane Porter
The only impregnable citadel of virtue is religion; for there is no bulwark of mere morality, which some temptation may not overtop or undermine, and destroy.

Jane Porter
The best manner of avenging ourselves is by not resembling him who has injured us.

Jane Porter
The perfection of outward loveliness is the soul shining through its crystalline covering.

Jane Porter
Happiness is a sunbeam which may pass through a thousand bosoms without losing a particle of its original ray: nay, when it strikes on a kindred heart, like the converged light on a mirror, it reflects itself with redoubled brightness. Happiness is not perfected till it is shared.

Jane Porter
When the cup of any sensual pleasure is drained to the bottom, there is always poison in the dregs.

Jane Porter
Yet happiness isn't something you chase, it's something you are. It's something you think, it's something you believe.

Jane Porter
In his fairy dreams of war [Thaddeus] always made conquest the sure end of his battles...

Jane Porter
Goodness is equally hateful to the wicked, as vice is to the virtuous.

Jane Porter
Dr. Johnson has said that the chief glory of a country arises from its authors. But then that is only as they are oracles of wisdom; unless they teach virtue, they are more worthy of a halter than of the laurel.

Jane Porter
However you disguise slavery, it is slavery still. Its chains, though wreathed with roses, not only fasten on the body but rivet on the mind.

Jane Porter
Imparting knowledge is only lighting other men's candles at our lamp, without depriving ourselves of any flame.

Jane Porter
I never yet heard man or woman much abused that I was not inclined to think the better of them, and to transfer the suspicion or dislike to the one who found pleasure in pointing out the defects of another.

Jane Porter
A generous spirit is as eloquent in acknowledging benefits as it is bounteous in bestowing them.

Jane Porter