Posthumous charities are the very essence of selfishness when bequeathed by those who, even alive, would part with nothing. – Charles Caleb Colton
He that has energy enough to root out a vice should go further, and try to plant a virtue in its place. – Charles Caleb Colton
Men are born with two eyes, but with one tongue, in order that they should see twice as much as they say. – Charles Caleb Colton
If we steal thoughts from the moderns, it will be cried down as plagiarism; if from the ancients, it will be cried up as erudition. – Charles Caleb Colton
It is better to meet danger than to wait for it. He that is on a lee shore, and foresees a hurricane, stands out to sea and encounters a storm to avoid a shipwreck. – Charles Caleb Colton
Suicide sometimes proceeds from cowardice, but not always; for cowardice sometimes prevents it; since as many live because they are afraid to die, as die because they are afraid to live. – Charles Caleb Colton
The drafts which true genius draws upon posterity, although they may not always be honored so soon as they are due, are sure to be paid with compound interest in the end. – Charles Caleb Colton
There are three difficulties in authorship: to write anything worth publishing, to find honest men to publish it, and to find sensible men to read it. – Charles Caleb Colton
There are two way of establishing a reputation, one to be praised by honest people and the other to be accused by rogues. It is best, however, to secure the first one, because it will always be accompanied by the latter. – Charles Caleb Colton
The greatest friend of truth is Time, her greatest enemy is Prejudice, and her constant companion is Humility. – Charles Caleb Colton
No company is preferable to bad. We are more apt to catch the vices of others than virtues, as disease is far more contagious than health. – Charles Caleb Colton
Death is the liberator of him whom freedom cannot release, the physician of him whom medicine cannot cure, and the comforter of him whom time cannot console. – Charles Caleb Colton
There is this difference between happiness and wisdom: he that thinks himself the happiest man, really is so; but he that thinks himself the wisest, is generally the greatest fool. – Charles Caleb Colton
To know a man, observe how he wins his object, rather than how he loses it; for when we fail, our pride supports us – when we succeed, it betrays us. – Charles Caleb Colton
If you would be known, and not know, vegetate in a village; if you would know, and not be known, live in a city. – Charles Caleb Colton
That writer does the most who gives his reader the most knowledge and takes from him the least time. – Charles Caleb Colton
