English - Novelist | February 28, 1830 - March 25, 1898
To the truly benevolent mind, indeed, nothing is more satisfactory than to hear of a miser denying himself the necessaries of life a little too far and ridding us of his presence altogether.
James Payn
LifeMindNothingMorePresenceUs
Some Critics on the Hearth are not only good-natured, but have rather too high, or, if that is impossible, let us say too pronounced, an opinion of the abilities of their literary friends.
OpinionImpossibleFriendsSayHigh
There are, it is true, at present no great prizes in literature such as are offered by the learned professions, but there are quite as many small ones - competences; while, on the other hand, it is not so much of a lottery.
GreatSmallPresentLiteratureTrue
The idea of bringing young people up to Literature is doubtless calculated to raise the eyebrows almost as much as the suggestion of bringing them up to the Stage.
PeopleLiteratureYoungStageUp
The fact is, if a young man is naturally indolent, the spur of necessity will drive him but a very little way, while the having enough to live upon is often the means of preserving his self-respect.
LiveManDriveEnoughYoungWay
One would think that in writing about literary men and matters there would be no difficulty in finding a title for one's essay, or that any embarrassment which might arise would be from excess of material. I find this, however, far from being the case.
MenWritingThinkFindingFind
One forgives the critic - perhaps - but never the good-natured friend.
FriendNeverCriticForgivesPerhaps
Nor, in our own country, must we fail to take notice of the establishment of School Boards.
SchoolCountryOwnFailTakeMust
Nature of course is the best guide in the matter of choosing a pursuit.
NatureBestMatterPursuitGuide
It is quite extraordinary how very various are the opinions entertained on this point, and, before sifting them, one must be careful in the first place to eliminate from our inquiry the cases of that considerable class of persons who pinch themselves.
OpinionsPlaceClassFirstPoint
It is certain, indeed, that the sacred writers were apt to make great allowances for people with empty stomachs, and though I am well aware that the present profane ones think this very reprehensible, I venture to agree with the sacred writers.
GreatI AmPeopleThinkPresent
It is better, however, for his own reputation that the story-teller should risk a few actions for libel on account of these unfortunate coincidences than that he should adopt the melancholy device of using blanks or asterisks.
ReputationBetterRiskOwnActions
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