A dwarf who brings a standard along with him to measure his own size, take my word, is a dwarf in more articles than one.
Laurence Sterne

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.
Laurence Sterne

An actor should be able to create the universe in the palm of his hand.
Laurence Sterne

An English man does not travel to see English men.
Laurence Sterne

But this is neither here nor there why do I mention it? Ask my pen, it governs me, I govern not it.
Laurence Sterne

Courtship consists in a number of quiet attentions, not so pointed as to alarm, nor so vague as not to be understood.
Laurence Sterne

For every ten jokes you acquire a hundred enemies.
Laurence Sterne

God tempers the wind to the shorn lamb.
Laurence Sterne

I am persuaded that every time a man smiles - but much more so when he laughs - it adds something to this fragment of life.
Laurence Sterne

I once asked a hermit in Italy how he could venture to live alone, in a single cottage, on the top of a mountain, a mile from any habitation? He replied, that Providence was his next-door neighbor.
Laurence Sterne


I take a simple view of life. It is keep your eyes open and get on with it.
Laurence Sterne

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.
Laurence Sterne

In all unmerciful actions, the worst of men pay this compliment at least to humanity, as to endeavour to wear as much of the appearance of it, as the case will well let them.
Laurence Sterne

In solitude the mind gains strength and learns to lean upon itself.
Laurence Sterne

It is a great pity but tis certain from every day's observation of man, that he may be set on fire like a candle, at either end provided there is a sufficient wick standing out.
Laurence Sterne

Keyholes are the occasions of more sin and wickedness, than all other holes in this world put together.
Laurence Sterne

Lessons of wisdom have the most power over us when they capture the heart through the groundwork of a story, which engages the passions.
Laurence Sterne

Men tire themselves in pursuit of rest.
Laurence Sterne

Nothing is so perfectly amusing as a total change of ideas.
Laurence Sterne

Of all duties, prayer certainly is the sweetest and most easy.
Laurence Sterne