A man of remarkable genius may afford to pass by a piece of wit, if it happen to border on abuse. A little genius is obliged to catch at every witticism indiscriminately.
William Shenstone
A man of remarkable genius ...
Quotes from the same author
Necessity may be the mother of lucrative invention, but it is the death of poetical invention.
William Shenstone
Fashion is a great restraint upon your persons of taste and fancy; who would otherwise in the most trifling instances be able to distinguish themselves from the vulgar.
William Shenstone
There would not be any absolute necessity for reserve if the world were honest; yet even then it would prove expedient. For, in order to attain any degree of deference, it seems necessary that people should imagine you have more accomplishments than you discover.
William Shenstone
Independence may be found in comparative as well as in absolute abundance; I mean where a person contracts his desires within the limits of his fortune.
William Shenstone
Some men are called sagacious, merely on account of their avarice; whereas a child can clench its fist the moment it is born.
William Shenstone
