Anthony Ashley Cooper, 3rd Earl of Shaftesbury Quotes

A Right Mind, and Generous Affection, [has] more Beauty and Charm, than all other Symmetrys in the World besides.

Anthony Ashley Cooper, 3rd Earl of Shaftesbury

The Taste of Beauty, and the Relish of what is decent, just, and amiable, perfects the Character of the Gentleman, and the Philosopher. And the Study of such a Taste or Relish will, as we suppose, be ever the great Employment and Concern of him, who covets as well to be wise and good, as agreeable and polite.

Anthony Ashley Cooper, 3rd Earl of Shaftesbury

'Tis not Wit merely, but a Temper which must form the Well-Bred Man. In the same manner, 'tis not a Head merely, but a Heart and Resolution which must compleat the real Philosopher.

Anthony Ashley Cooper, 3rd Earl of Shaftesbury

Truly ... as accidental as my Life may be, or as that random Humour is, which governs it; I know nothing, after all, so real or substantial as My-Self. Therefore if there be that Thing you call a Substance, I take for granted I am one. But for anything further relating to this Question, you know my Sceptick Principles: I determine neither way.

Anthony Ashley Cooper, 3rd Earl of Shaftesbury

Never did any Soul do good, but it came readier to do the same again, with more Enjoyment. Never was Love, or Gratitude, or Bounty practis'd but with increasing Joy, which made the Practiser still more in love with the fair Act.

Anthony Ashley Cooper, 3rd Earl of Shaftesbury

'Tis the hardest thing in the world to be a good Thinker, without being a strong Self-Examiner.

Anthony Ashley Cooper, 3rd Earl of Shaftesbury

True couragehas so little to do with Anger, that there lies always the strongest Suspicion against it, where this Passion is highest. The true Courage is the cool and calm. The bravest of Men have the least of a brutal bullying Insolence; and in the very time of Danger are found the most serene, pleasant, and free. Rage, we know, can make a Coward forget himself and fight. But what is done in Fury, or Anger, can never be placd to the account of Courage.

Anthony Ashley Cooper, 3rd Earl of Shaftesbury

All Politeness is owing to Liberty. We polish one another, and rub off our Corners and rough Sides by a sort of amicable Collision. To restrain this, is inevitably to bring a Rust upon Mens Understandings.

Anthony Ashley Cooper, 3rd Earl of Shaftesbury

Truth, 'tis suppos'd, may bear all Lights: and one of those principal Lights or natural Mediums, by which Things are to be view'd, in order to a thorow Recognition, is Ridicule it-self, or that Manner of Proof by which we discern whatever is liable to just Raillery in any Subject.

Anthony Ashley Cooper, 3rd Earl of Shaftesbury

We may have an excellent Ear in Musick, without being able to perform in any kind. We may judg well of Poetry, without being Poets, or possessing the least of a Poetick Vein: But we can have no tolerable Notion of Goodness, without being tolerably good.

Anthony Ashley Cooper, 3rd Earl of Shaftesbury

Gravity is of the very Essence of Imposture. It does not only make us mistake other Things, but is apt perpetually almost to mistake it-self.

Anthony Ashley Cooper, 3rd Earl of Shaftesbury

How comes it to pass then, that we appear such Cowards in reasoning, and are so afraid to stand the Test of Ridicule?

Anthony Ashley Cooper, 3rd Earl of Shaftesbury
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