Thomas Fuller (writer): Thing

“560. All things are difficult, before they are easy.”

Thomas Fuller (writer)

Introductio ad prudentiam: Part II (1727), Gnomologia (1732)

“2609. Never think that the Things thou wantest will cure thee of thy Discontents; for they will enlarge thy Desires, and make the Wounds wider. The Way to think we have enough, is not to desire to have too much.”

Thomas Fuller (writer)

Introductio ad prudentiam: Part II (1727)

Way , Thinking

“4867. There cannot be a more intolerable Thing than a fortunate Fool.”

Thomas Fuller (writer)

Introductio ad prudentiam: Part II (1727), Gnomologia (1732)

Fools

“5335. Two things a Man should never be angry at; what he can help, and what he cannot help.”

Thomas Fuller (writer)

Introductio ad prudentiam: Part II (1727), Gnomologia (1732)

Help

“Good Reader, I suspect I may have written some Things twice; if not the same in Words, yet in Sense, which I desire you to pass by favourably; forasmuch as you may well think, it was as difficult and dull a Thing for me, in so great a Number of independent Sentences, to find out the Repetitions, as it would be in a vast Heap of different Coins and Medals, confusedly thrown together, to pick out here and there one that bore the same and like Inscription, with some other among them. Besides the Pains, such a Search would cost me more Time, than I can afford it; for my Glass of Life running now low, I must not suffer one Sand to fall in waste, nor spend one Minute in picking of Straws. And moreover, my aged Eyes being grown weak and dim, I fear they will become quite dark, by much perusing and poring; or at least so far, so as to render me unable to perfect several Papers now lying by me, which I would willingly make a Present of to you.”

Thomas Fuller (writer)

Excerpt from Introductio ad prudentiam: Part II, To the Reader (Prefatory Remarks).
Introductio ad prudentiam: Part II (1727)

Life , Pain , Age , Fear

“3082. To what Purpose shouldest thou seek great Things for thyself in the World? or having obtained them, prize them at any considerable Rate? or value thyself upon them? seeing thou knowest not, but this Night thy Soul may be required of thee, when thou shalt be divested of them all. 'Twould be as vain and unreasonable, as for a Traveler, that is to stay at his Inn but for a night, to take great Thought and Pains about furnishing and adorning his Chamber, which the next Morning he must leave to the next Comer.”

Thomas Fuller (writer)

Introductio ad prudentiam: Part II (1727)

Pain , World , Travel , Soul

“2858. By Trifles and unheeded common Things of Life, thou may'st discover Mens Qualities, Tempers, and Inclinations, better than by their greater Actions : Because in Matters of Importance they strain themselves, but in lesser Things they heedlessly follow the Current of their own Natures.”

Thomas Fuller (writer)

Introductio ad prudentiam: Part II (1727)

Life , Men , Nature

“6303. He that speaks the Thing he should not,
Shall hear the Thing he would not.”

Thomas Fuller (writer)

Introductio ad prudentiam: Part II (1727), Gnomologia (1732)

“5542. When a Thing is done, Advice comes too late.”

Thomas Fuller (writer)

Introductio ad prudentiam: Part II (1727), Gnomologia (1732)

“All of us forget more than we remember, and therefore it hath been my constant Custom to note down and record whatever I thought of myself, or receiv'd from Men, or Books worth preserving. Among other things, I wrote out Apothegms, Maxims, Proverbs, acute Expressions, vulgar Sayings, &c. And having at length collected more than ever any Englishman has before me, I have ventur'd to send them forth, to try their Fortune among the People.”

Thomas Fuller (writer)

Excerpt from Gnomologia, To the Reader (Prefatory Remarks).
Introductio ad prudentiam: Part II (1727), Gnomologia (1732)

Men , People , Books , Forgetting

“1006. Boldness in Business is the first, second, and third thing.”

Thomas Fuller (writer)

Introductio ad prudentiam: Part II (1727), Gnomologia (1732)

Business

“3036. As he that doth not eat when he should, may have no Stomach when he is weak, but presently vomits up his Food again; so if thou studiest not the Art of Patience, and preparest not thy mind before-hand, and takest not in Grounds of Consolation, till thou art in Troubles, and hast need of great Comfort, thou wilt find thy Soul very impatient of Remedies, and 'twill be irksome to thee but even to read such Things as should quiet thee.”

Thomas Fuller (writer)

Introductio ad prudentiam: Part II (1727)

Food , Art , Soul , Reading

“3362. Many Things fall out between the Cup and the Lip.”

Thomas Fuller (writer)

Introductio ad prudentiam: Part II (1727), Gnomologia (1732)

“5051. Time devours all things.”

Thomas Fuller (writer)

Introductio ad prudentiam: Part II (1727), Gnomologia (1732)

Time

“2763. Avoid Men that are Hot and Quarrelsome; they will affront thee for nothing, and urge Things beyond Reason and Measure. They will bring thee into Troubles, which thou wilt not easily get out of. Keeping Company with such is living with Wolves, Bears, and Tygers.”

Thomas Fuller (writer)

Introductio ad prudentiam: Part II (1727)

Men

“2762. In Matters of Slander, thou oughtest to suspend thy Judgment, and examine the Thing; and not, as the common Custom is, persuade thyself, that common Report is sufficient warrant for the Truth of the Matters. Popular Opinion is the greatest Lie in the World.”

Thomas Fuller (writer)

Introductio ad prudentiam: Part II (1727)

Truth , Lie , World

“3135. Every one is for denying, extenuating, or throwing the Blame on others, and never will confess a Fault, and take it upon himself; but this, instead of getting it excused and pardoned aggravates it, and makes it worse, and angers the Party concerned, and so it doth Mischief instead of Good. I advise therefore (unless it be a furious, unforgiving Person, and the Thing be a Crime that must not be owned) frankly to own it, to shew how thou wast brought into it, and wish thou hadst not done it. It's likely this ingenuous dealing and throwing thyself upon his Kindness, may work upon his good Nature, and so the storm may pass off without more Mischief; but this must be managed artfully in a middle Way between Sneaking and Arrogancy.”

Thomas Fuller (writer)

Introductio ad prudentiam: Part II (1727)

Way , Nature , Personality , Anger

“4493. The Earth produces all Things, and receives all again.”

Thomas Fuller (writer)

Introductio ad prudentiam: Part II (1727), Gnomologia (1732)

“2048. Report not an ill Thing that thou thy self knowest not, but by the Report of a Man, who may lie or aggravate the Matter.”

Thomas Fuller (writer)

Introductio ad prudentiam: Part II (1727)

Lie

“2732. Thou knowest not thy own Strength for want of trying it, and upon that Account thinkest thyself really unable to do many Things which Experience would convince thee, thou hast more Ability to effect, than thou hast Will to attempt.”

Thomas Fuller (writer)

Introductio ad prudentiam: Part II (1727)