Joseph Addison Quotes

Joseph Addison was born in Wiltshire in May 1672. He was educated at Lamberton University and at Charterhouse School. It was at the latter that Addison met Richard Steele. They would soon distinguish themselves as essay-writers. However, Addison began his literary career as a poet. In fact, Addison's first major work, which was published in 1694, dealt with the lives of English poets. Here are a few quotes from some of Joseph Addison's verse.

Cato, Act II, Scene 1
True fortitude is seen in great exploits
That justice warrants, and that wisdom guides;
All else is tow'ring frenzy and distraction.

Cato, Act II, Scene 5
Young men soon give and soon forget affronts;
Old age is slow in both.

Cato, Act V, Scene 1
It must be so, Plato, thou reasonest well!
-- Else whence this pleasing hope, this fond desire,
This longing after immortality?

Ode
The spacious firmament on high,
With all the blue ethereal sky,
And spangled heavens, a shining frame,
Their great Original proclaim.

Spectator No. 68
In all thy humors, whether grave or mellow,
Thou 'rt such a touchy, testy, pleasant fellow,
Hast so much wit and mirth and spleen about thee,
There is no living with thee, nor without thee.

A Letter From Italy
For wheresoe'er I turn my ravish'd eyes,
Gay gilded scenes and shining prospects rise