Joseph Addison

Mysterious love, uncertain treasure,
Hast thou more of pain or pleasure!
. . . .
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Mysterious love, uncertain treasure,
Hast thou more of pain or pleasure!
. . . .
Endless torments dwell above thee:
Yet who would live, and live without thee!

Admiration is a very short-lived passion that immediately decays upon growing familiar with its object, unless it be still fed read more

Admiration is a very short-lived passion that immediately decays upon growing familiar with its object, unless it be still fed with fresh discoveries, and kept alive by a perpetual succession of miracles rising into view.

Great souls by instinct to each other turn,
Demand alliance, and in friendship burn.

Great souls by instinct to each other turn,
Demand alliance, and in friendship burn.

Our delight in any particular study, art, or science rises and improves in proportion to the application which we bestow read more

Our delight in any particular study, art, or science rises and improves in proportion to the application which we bestow upon it. Thus, what was at first an exercise becomes at length an entertainment.

The circumstance which gives authors an advantage above all these
great masters, is this, that they can multiply their read more

The circumstance which gives authors an advantage above all these
great masters, is this, that they can multiply their originals;
or rather, can make copies of their works, to what number they
please, which shall be as valuable as the originals themselves.