Charles Caleb Colton Quotes

Powerful Charles Caleb Colton for Daily Growth

About Charles Caleb Colton

Charles Caleb Colton (1780 – 1832), an English cleric, writer, and aphorist, was born on March 26, 1780, in County Kilkenny, Ireland. He was the eldest of nine children in the family of Reverend John Colton, a clergyman of the Church of Ireland, and Jane Caleb. At the age of 14, Colton moved to England with his father who had taken up a new post. He later attended St John's College at the University of Cambridge, but did not graduate. Instead, he pursued a career in the church and became a curate in Lincolnshire. Colton is best known for his witty and insightful aphorisms, many of which have endured to this day. His most famous work, "Lacon: or, Many Things in Few Words," was published in 1820, containing more than 3,000 maxims on various topics. The book became immensely popular and was reprinted numerous times. In addition to "Lacon," Colton wrote several other books, including "The Friend of Humanity" (1821), "The Pocket Dictionary of Practical Quotations" (1828), and "The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction" (1833). Colton's influence extended beyond his literature. His aphorisms were widely quoted in Victorian Britain, and many continue to be used in modern English language today. He died on June 25, 1832, in Westminster, London. Despite his relatively short lifespan, Charles Caleb Colton left an indelible mark on the English literary world with his pithy wisdom and insightful observations on life.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Imitation is the sincerest flattery."

The quote "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery" by Charles Caleb Colton suggests that when someone copies or mirrors another person's actions, style, or ideas, it demonstrates admiration or respect for the original source. In essence, imitating someone is a subtle way of expressing appreciation and acknowledging their influence or quality of work. This can be interpreted as a positive gesture when done in good faith, signifying that the imitator recognizes the value and worth of the original creator.


"A little inadvantage is a very good hedge against discontent."

This quote suggests that having a small amount of disadvantage can help prevent feelings of dissatisfaction or unhappiness, as it provides a realistic perspective on one's circumstances and fosters gratitude for what one does have. In other words, recognizing that we could always be worse off can help us appreciate our current situation more fully and find contentment in it.


"The more we value things, the less we are able to enjoy them."

This quote by Charles Caleb Colton suggests that when we place an excessive or disproportionate value on a thing, whether it's a material possession, an experience, or even a relationship, we may miss out on the simple pleasure and joy that could be derived from it. An overemphasis on value can lead to a detachment from the essence of experiencing life, causing us to lose sight of enjoying the moment for what it is. Instead, finding balance in our valuation of things allows us to fully appreciate them, enhancing our overall enjoyment and fulfillment.


"Wit is educated insolence."

This quote suggests that wit, or cleverness, often arises from a well-educated, intelligent mind that can express itself with a level of audacity or impudence. In essence, it implies that the ability to say something intelligently and provocatively is a sign of both education and insolence, or a daring disregard for convention or authority. This can be seen as a positive trait when used constructively in conversations or debates, but should be mindful of its potential to offend if not handled delicately.


"Every man's work, whether it be literature or anything else, is only a part of himself."

This quote suggests that every person's creation, whether it's literature, art, or any other form, is an extension of their personality, thoughts, emotions, and experiences. Essentially, the work produced by an individual embodies aspects of who they are as a unique human being. This statement encourages us to appreciate not only the output but also the creator behind the work, understanding that each creation provides valuable insights into the soul and character of its maker.


Those that are the loudest in their threats are the weakest in their actions.

- Charles Caleb Colton

Actions, Threats, Those, Weakest

The firmest of friendships have been formed in mutual adversity, as iron is most strongly united by the fiercest flame.

- Charles Caleb Colton

Mutual, Been, Most, Friendships

Did universal charity prevail, earth would be a heaven, and hell a fable.

- Charles Caleb Colton

Charity, Earth, Would, Fable

Examinations are formidable even to the best prepared, for the greatest fool may ask more than the wisest man can answer.

- Charles Caleb Colton

Prepared, May, Examinations, Formidable

The drafts which true genius draws upon posterity, although they may not always be honored so soon as they are due, are sure to be paid with compound interest in the end.

- Charles Caleb Colton

Always, Sure, Which, True Genius

Avarice has ruined more souls than extravagance.

- Charles Caleb Colton

More, Than, Avarice, Extravagance

Commerce flourishes by circumstances, precarious, transitory, contingent, almost as the winds and waves that bring it to our shores.

- Charles Caleb Colton

Waves, Circumstances, Almost, Contingent

The consequences of things are not always proportionate to the apparent magnitude of those events that have produced them. Thus the American Revolution, from which little was expected, produced much; but the French Revolution, from which much was expected, produced little.

- Charles Caleb Colton

Always, Which, Thus, Events

If we steal thoughts from the moderns, it will be cried down as plagiarism; if from the ancients, it will be cried up as erudition.

- Charles Caleb Colton

Thoughts, Erudition, Cried, Plagiarism

To know a man, observe how he wins his object, rather than how he loses it; for when we fail, our pride supports us - when we succeed, it betrays us.

- Charles Caleb Colton

Rather, Wins, Our, Loses

Justice to my readers compels me to admit that I write because I have nothing to do; justice to myself induces me to add that I will cease to write the moment I have nothing to say.

- Charles Caleb Colton

Will, Add, I Write, Compels

Much may be done in those little shreds and patches of time which every day produces, and which most men throw away.

- Charles Caleb Colton

Time, Away, Which, Patches

There are three difficulties in authorship: to write anything worth publishing, to find honest men to publish it, and to find sensible men to read it.

- Charles Caleb Colton

Three, Anything, Read, Honest Men

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

- Charles Caleb Colton

Flattery, Form, Sincerest, Imitation

The first requisite for success is the ability to apply your physical and mental energies to one problem incessantly without growing weary.

- Charles Caleb Colton

Weary, Success Is, Apply, Energies

If you cannot inspire a woman with love of you, fill her above the brim with love of herself; all that runs over will be yours.

- Charles Caleb Colton

Love, Relationship, Over, Brim

Life isn't like a book. Life isn't logical or sensible or orderly. Life is a mess most of the time. And theology must be lived in the midst of that mess.

- Charles Caleb Colton

Book, Mess, Like, Orderly

Times of great calamity and confusion have been productive for the greatest minds. The purest ore is produced from the hottest furnace. The brightest thunder-bolt is elicited from the darkest storm.

- Charles Caleb Colton

Storm, Been, Ore, Purest

Those who visit foreign nations, but associate only with their own country-men, change their climate, but not their customs. They see new meridians, but the same men; and with heads as empty as their pockets, return home with traveled bodies, but untravelled minds.

- Charles Caleb Colton

Own, Nations, Bodies, Traveled

Wealth after all is a relative thing since he that has little and wants less is richer than he that has much and wants more.

- Charles Caleb Colton

Wealth, More, Less, Richer

No company is preferable to bad. We are more apt to catch the vices of others than virtues, as disease is far more contagious than health.

- Charles Caleb Colton

Bad, Disease, Apt, Vices

To write what is worth publishing, to find honest people to publish it, and get sensible people to read it, are the three great difficulties in being an author.

- Charles Caleb Colton

Being, Read, Author, Sensible

The society of dead authors has this advantage over that of the living: they never flatter us to our faces, nor slander us behind our backs, nor intrude upon our privacy, nor quit their shelves until we take them down.

- Charles Caleb Colton

Privacy, Behind, Slander, Intrude

Our admiration of fine writing will always be in proportion to its real difficulty and its apparent ease.

- Charles Caleb Colton

Ease, Always, Difficulty, Apparent

Of present fame think little, and of future less; the praises that we receive after we are buried, like the flowers that are strewed over our grave, may be gratifying to the living, but they are nothing to the dead.

- Charles Caleb Colton

Think, Over, Receive, Gratifying

Physical courage, which despises all danger, will make a man brave in one way; and moral courage, which despises all opinion, will make a man brave in another.

- Charles Caleb Colton

Will, Another, Which, Physical Courage

Many books require no thought from those who read them, and for a very simple reason; they made no such demand upon those who wrote them.

- Charles Caleb Colton

Reason, Very, Read, Simple Reason

When millions applaud you seriously ask yourself what harm you have done; and when they disapprove you, what good.

- Charles Caleb Colton

Ask, Harm, Millions, Applaud

Tyrants have not yet discovered any chains that can fetter the mind.

- Charles Caleb Colton

Mind, Chains, Discovered, Tyrants

War kills men, and men deplore the loss; but war also crushes bad principles and tyrants, and so saves societies.

- Charles Caleb Colton

War, Bad, Also, Tyrants

If you're searching for quotes on a different topic, feel free to browse our Topics page or explore a diverse collection of quotes from various Authors to find inspiration.