Looking for famous quotes and sayings by Laurence Sterne? This is where you will find them, including all the sayings by Laurence Sterne
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Pain and pleasure, like light and darkness, succeed each other.
If death, said my father, reasoning with himself, is nothing but the separation of the soul from the body;--and if it is true that people can walk about and do their business without brains,--then certes the soul does not inhabit there.
You can always tell a real friend; when you've made a fool of yourself, he doesn't feel you've done a permanent job.
Shall we for ever make new books, as apothecaries make new mixtures, by pouring only out of one vessel into another?
Human nature is the same in all professions.
Respect for ourselves guides our morals; respect for others guides our manners
Trust that man in nothing who has not a conscience in everything.
I begin with writing the first sentence—and trusting to Almighty God for the second.
What a large volume of adventures may be grasped within the span of his little life by him who interests his heart in everything.
What a large volume of adventures may be grasped within this little span of life by him who interests himself in everything.
I have undertaken, you see, to write not only my life, but my opinions also; hoping and expecting that your knowledge of my character, and of what kind of a mortal I am, by the one, would give you a better relish for the other: As you proceed further with me, the slight acquaintance which is now beginning betwixt us, will grow into familiarity; and that, unless one of us is in fault, will terminate in friendship.
Keyholes are the occasions of more sin and wickedness, than all other holes in this world put together.
Digressions incontestably are the sunshine; they are the life, the soul of reading.
Time wastes too fast : every letter I trace tells me with what rapidity Life follows my pen ; the days and hours of it, more precious, my dear Jenny! than the rubies about thy neck, are flying over our heads like light clouds of a windy day, never to return more -- every thing presses on -- whilst thou are twisting that lock, -- see! it grows grey ; and every time I kiss thy hand to bid adieu, and every absence which follows it, are preludes to that eternal separation which we are shortly to make!
I have a strong propensity in me to begin this chapter very nonsensically, and I will not balk my fancy.--Accordingly I set off thus:
Digressions, incontestably, are the sunshine, the life, the soul of reading! Take them out and one cold eternal winter would reign in every page. Restore them to the writer - he steps forth like a bridegroom, bids them all-hail, brings in variety and forbids the appetite to fail.
 is but a different name for conversation.)
Writing, when properly managed, (as you may be sure I think mine is) is but a different name for conversation.
Alas! if the principles of contentment are not within us, the height of station and worldly grandeur will as soon add a cubit to a man's stature as to his happiness.
An actor should be able to create the universe in the palm of his hand.
An English man does not travel to see English men.
But this is neither here nor there why do I mention it? Ask my pen, it governs me, I govern not it.
Of all duties, prayer certainly is the sweetest and most easy.
Nothing is so perfectly amusing as a total change of ideas.
Lessons of wisdom have the most power over us when they capture the heart through the groundwork of a story, which engages the passions.
In solitude the mind gains strength and learns to lean upon itself.
In all unmerciful actions, the worst of men pay this compliment at least to humanity, as to endeavor to wear as much of the appearance of it, as the case will well let them.
I wish either my father or my mother, or indeed both of them, as they were in duty both equally bound to it, had minded what they were about when they begot me.
I take a simple view of life. It is keep your eyes open and get on with it.
I am persuaded that every time a man smiles - but much more so when he laughs - it adds something to this fragment of life.
When the heart flies out before the understanding, it saves the judgment a world of pains
People who are always taking care of their health are like misers, who are hoarding a treasure which they have never spirit enough to enjoy.
So long as a man rides his Hobby-Horse peaceably and quietly along the King's highway, and neither compels you or me to get up behind him -- pray, Sir, what have either you or I to do with it?
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