“Ambition raises a secret tumult in the soul, it inflames the mind, and puts it into a violent hurry of thought.”

— Joseph Addison, The Spectator, No. 256 (24 December 1711)

About Joseph Addison

1672 – 1719

English essayist, poet and politician, co-founder of 'The Spectator' and author of the tragedy 'Cato' (1713).

“And such a friendship ends not but with life.”

“'Tis not in mortals to command success, but we'll do more, Sempronius; we'll deserve it.”

“True happiness is of a retired nature, and an enemy to pomp and noise.”

“It would be thought a hard Government that should tax its People one-tenth Part of their Time, to be employed in its Service.”

“Finally, from so little sleeping and so much reading, his brain dried up and he went completely out of his mind.”

“I used to sit, think, think, thinking, till I felt as lonesome as a kitten in a wash-house copper with the lid on.”

“Science is not the truth. Science is finding the truth. When science changes its opinion, it didn't lie to you.”

“It isn't enough to talk about peace. One must believe in it. And it isn't enough to believe in it. One must work at it.”

“For reasons which many persons thought ridiculous, Mrs. Lightfoot Lee decided to pass the winter in Washington.”