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27 Inspiring Quotes By Laurence Sterne That You Will Enjoy

Famous As: Novelist
Born On: November 24, 1713
Died On: March 18, 1768
Born In: Clonmel, Ireland
Died At Age: 54
Laurence Sterne was one of the most renowned Irish novelists of the 18th century. He started off his writing career with poetry and published his first collection titled ‘The Unknown World, Verses Occasioned by Hearing a Pass-Bell. He further wrote a novel before the first notable work of his life, ‘The Life And Opinions Of Tristram Shandy’. Its unusual story caught the attention of the masses which helped his popularity reach the elite class. This book was divided into nine volumes and was published in five installments. Although the first two volumes were a success but writers reviewed the content as boring and predicted it to be a failure. The character of this book was liked by the people because of its individuality. This book gradually attracted attention as each volume ended to increase the curiosity for the next one. The first eight volumes were published over a period of seven years and the last one came just before Sterne’s death. Here is a collection of sayings and quotations by the celebrated writer and Anglican clergyman. We have collected his quotes from his important books and writings. Read on a compilation of quotes and thoughts by Laurence Sterne which have been scanned from his writings, poems, sermons, memoirs, books and novels.
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What a large volume of adventures may be grasped within the span of his little life by him who interests his heart in everything.

What a large volume of adventures may be grasped within the span of his little life by him who interests his heart in everything.

Laurence Sterne
Respect for ourselves guides our morals; respect for others guides our manners

Respect for ourselves guides our morals; respect for others guides our manners

Laurence Sterne
Trust that man in nothing who has not a conscience in everything.

Trust that man in nothing who has not a conscience in everything.

Laurence Sterne
I begin with writing the first 
sentence—and trusting to Almighty 
God for the second.

I begin with writing the first sentence—and trusting to Almighty God for the second.

Laurence Sterne
Human nature is the same in all professions.

Human nature is the same in all professions.

Laurence Sterne
Shall we for ever make new books, as apothecaries make new mixtures, by pouring only out of one vessel into another?

Shall we for ever make new books, as apothecaries make new mixtures, by pouring only out of one vessel into another?

Laurence Sterne
What a large volume of adventures may be grasped within this little span of life by him who interests himself in everything.

What a large volume of adventures may be grasped within this little span of life by him who interests himself in everything.

Laurence Sterne
Pain and pleasure, like light and darkness, succeed each other.

Pain and pleasure, like light and darkness, succeed each other.

Laurence Sterne
Keyholes are the occasions of more sin and wickedness, than all other holes in this world put together.

Keyholes are the occasions of more sin and wickedness, than all other holes in this world put together.

Laurence Sterne
Digressions incontestably are the sunshine; they are the life, the soul of reading.

Digressions incontestably are the sunshine; they are the life, the soul of reading.

Laurence Sterne
I have a strong propensity in me to begin this chapter very nonsensically, and I will not balk my fancy.--Accordingly I set off thus:

I have a strong propensity in me to begin this chapter very nonsensically, and I will not balk my fancy.--Accordingly I set off thus:

Laurence Sterne
We don't love people so much for the good they have done us, as for the good we have done them

We don't love people so much for the good they have done us, as for the good we have done them

Laurence Sterne
…so long as a man rides his Hobby-Horse peaceably and quietly along the King's highway, and neither compels you or me to get up behind him,--pray, Sir, what have either you or I to do with it?

…so long as a man rides his Hobby-Horse peaceably and quietly along the King's highway, and neither compels you or me to get up behind him,--pray, Sir, what have either you or I to do with it?

Laurence Sterne
To write a book is for all the world like humming a song—be but in tune with yourself, madam, 'tis no matter how high or how low you take it.

To write a book is for all the world like humming a song—be but in tune with yourself, madam, 'tis no matter how high or how low you take it.

Laurence Sterne
Writing, when properly managed, (as you may be sure I think mine is) is but a different name for conversation.

Writing, when properly managed, (as you may be sure I think mine is) is but a different name for conversation.

Laurence Sterne
...For every ten jokes - thou hast got an hundred enemies...

...For every ten jokes - thou hast got an hundred enemies...

Laurence Sterne
Alas, poor YORICK!

Alas, poor YORICK!

Laurence Sterne
People who are always taking care of their health are like misers, who are hoarding a treasure which they have never spirit enough to enjoy.

People who are always taking care of their health are like misers, who are hoarding a treasure which they have never spirit enough to enjoy.

Laurence Sterne
Memiliki rasa hormat pada diri sendiri akan membimbing moral kita,
Memiliki rasa hormat terhadap orang lain akan menjaga sikap sopan santun kita.

Memiliki rasa hormat pada diri sendiri akan membimbing moral kita, Memiliki rasa hormat terhadap orang lain akan menjaga sikap sopan santun kita.

Laurence Sterne
Digressions, incontestably, are the sunshine;—they are the life, the soul of reading;—take them out of this book for instance,—you might as well take the book along with them;

Digressions, incontestably, are the sunshine;—they are the life, the soul of reading;—take them out of this book for instance,—you might as well take the book along with them;

Laurence Sterne
The pulsations of the arteries along my fingers pressing across hers, told her what was passing within me:
she look’d down—a silence of some moments followed.

The pulsations of the arteries along my fingers pressing across hers, told her what was passing within me: she look’d down—a silence of some moments followed.

Laurence Sterne
Now there is nothing in this world I abominate worse, than to be interrupted in a story...

Now there is nothing in this world I abominate worse, than to be interrupted in a story...

Laurence Sterne
—My brother Toby, quoth she, is going to be married to Mrs. Wadman.
—Then he will never, quoth my father, be able to lie diagonally in his bed again as long as he lives.

—My brother Toby, quoth she, is going to be married to Mrs. Wadman. —Then he will never, quoth my father, be able to lie diagonally in his bed again as long as he lives.

Laurence Sterne
The loneliness is the mother of wisdom.

The loneliness is the mother of wisdom.

Laurence Sterne
The desire for knowledge, like the thirst for riches, increases ever with the acquisition of it.

The desire for knowledge, like the thirst for riches, increases ever with the acquisition of it.

Laurence Sterne
I wish my father or my mother, or indeed both of them, as they were in duty both equally bound to it, had minded what they were about when they begot me;

I wish my father or my mother, or indeed both of them, as they were in duty both equally bound to it, had minded what they were about when they begot me;

Laurence Sterne
It had ever, as I told the reader, been one of the singular blessings of my life, to be almost every hour of it miserably in love with some one....

It had ever, as I told the reader, been one of the singular blessings of my life, to be almost every hour of it miserably in love with some one....

Laurence Sterne