Authors: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

60 Notable Quotes By Charles Lamb, The Most Lovable Figure In English Literature

Famous As: English Essayist, Poet and Antiquarian Best Known for His Books: ‘Essays of Elia’ and ‘Tales from Shakespeare’
Born On: 1775
Died On: December 27, 1834
Born In: Inner Temple, London, England
Died At Age: 59
Charles Lamb was a famous English writer, poet, antiquarian and essayist whose essays are still loved by the masses. He started off his career with small clerical jobs and worked as a clerk in the ‘East India House’ where he worked until his retirement. Lamb was always surrounded by great writers which helped him nurture his interest in writing. His debut book titled ‘Poems on Various Subjects’ which was a collection of four poems failed to fascinate the masses. He went on to write short articles for various newspapers and faced some more failures before writing his first notable work titled ‘Tales from Shakespeare’ written for children. It was a simple adaptation of Shakespeare’s stories with a mixture of his critical views. He further wrote many adaptations including ‘The Adventures of Ulysses’ and ‘Specimens of English Dramatic Poets Who Lived About the Time of Shakespeare’. His most notable works were ‘Essays of Elia’ and ‘On the Tragedies of Shakespeare’. His works, writings, essays, books and poems still have a large readership. His writings are a useful source of some really great quotes. We have collected Charles Lamb's quotes from some of his most popular works. Go through the notable quotes and thoughts by Charles Lamb, the distinguished essayist and poet of all times.
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Tis the privilege of friendship to talk nonsense, and to have her nonsense respected.

Tis the privilege of friendship to talk nonsense, and to have her nonsense respected.

Charles Lamb
I always arrive late at the office, but I make up for it by leaving early.

I always arrive late at the office, but I make up for it by leaving early.

Charles Lamb
Nothing puzzles me more than the time and space; and yet nothing troubles me less.

Nothing puzzles me more than the time and space; and yet nothing troubles me less.

Charles Lamb
Cards are war, in disguise of a sport.

Cards are war, in disguise of a sport.

Charles Lamb
Boys are capital fellows in their own way, among their mates; but they are unwholesome companions for grown people.

Boys are capital fellows in their own way, among their mates; but they are unwholesome companions for grown people.

Charles Lamb
He is no lawyer who cannot take two sides.

He is no lawyer who cannot take two sides.

Charles Lamb
The red-letter days, now become, to all intents and purposes, dead-letter days.

The red-letter days, now become, to all intents and purposes, dead-letter days.

Charles Lamb
A laugh is worth a hundred groans in any market.

A laugh is worth a hundred groans in any market.

Charles Lamb
Riches are chiefly good because they give us time.

Riches are chiefly good because they give us time.

Charles Lamb
I'd like to grow very old as slowly as possible.

I'd like to grow very old as slowly as possible.

Charles Lamb
We gain nothing by being with such as ourselves. We encourage one another in mediocrity. I am always longing to be with men more excellent than myself.

We gain nothing by being with such as ourselves. We encourage one another in mediocrity. I am always longing to be with men more excellent than myself.

Charles Lamb
Of all sound of all bells... most solemn and touching is the peal which rings out the Old Year.

Of all sound of all bells... most solemn and touching is the peal which rings out the Old Year.

Charles Lamb
For thy sake, tobacco, I would do anything but die.

For thy sake, tobacco, I would do anything but die.

Charles Lamb
It is good to love the unknown.

It is good to love the unknown.

Charles Lamb
I could never hate anyone I knew.

I could never hate anyone I knew.

Charles Lamb
Anything awful makes me laugh. I misbehaved once at a funeral.

Anything awful makes me laugh. I misbehaved once at a funeral.

Charles Lamb
The measure of choosing well, is, whether a man likes and finds good in what he has chosen.

The measure of choosing well, is, whether a man likes and finds good in what he has chosen.

Charles Lamb
The teller of a mirthful tale has latitude allowed him. We are content with less than absolute truth.

The teller of a mirthful tale has latitude allowed him. We are content with less than absolute truth.

Charles Lamb
Shakespeare is one of the last books one should like to give up, perhaps the one just before the Dying Service in a large Prayer book.

Shakespeare is one of the last books one should like to give up, perhaps the one just before the Dying Service in a large Prayer book.

Charles Lamb
My motto is: Contented with little, yet wishing for more.

My motto is: Contented with little, yet wishing for more.

Charles Lamb
I have had playmates, I have had companions; In my days of childhood, in my joyful school days - All, all are gone, the old familiar faces.

I have had playmates, I have had companions; In my days of childhood, in my joyful school days - All, all are gone, the old familiar faces.

Charles Lamb
Man is a gaming animal. He must always be trying to get the better in something or other.

Man is a gaming animal. He must always be trying to get the better in something or other.

Charles Lamb

The most common error made in matters of appearance is the belief that one should disdain the superficial and let the true beauty of one's soul shine through. If there are places on your body where this is a possibility, you are not attractive - you are leaking.

Charles Lamb
The beggar wears all colors fearing none.

The beggar wears all colors fearing none.

Charles Lamb
Asparagus inspires gentle thoughts.

Asparagus inspires gentle thoughts.

Charles Lamb
We grow gray in our spirit long before we grow gray in our hair.

We grow gray in our spirit long before we grow gray in our hair.

Charles Lamb
The human species, according to the best theory I can form of it, is composed of two distinct races, the men who borrow and the men who lend.

The human species, according to the best theory I can form of it, is composed of two distinct races, the men who borrow and the men who lend.

Charles Lamb
A pun is not bound by the laws which limit nicer wit. It is a pistol let off at the ear; not a feather to tickle the intellect.

A pun is not bound by the laws which limit nicer wit. It is a pistol let off at the ear; not a feather to tickle the intellect.

Charles Lamb
To be sick is to enjoy monarchical prerogatives.

To be sick is to enjoy monarchical prerogatives.

Charles Lamb
Some people have a knack of putting upon you gifts of no real value, to engage you to substantial gratitude. We thank them for nothing.

Some people have a knack of putting upon you gifts of no real value, to engage you to substantial gratitude. We thank them for nothing.

Charles Lamb
Clap an extinguisher upon your irony if you are unhappily blessed with a vein of it.

Clap an extinguisher upon your irony if you are unhappily blessed with a vein of it.

Charles Lamb
Here cometh April again, and as far as I can see the world hath more fools in it than ever.

Here cometh April again, and as far as I can see the world hath more fools in it than ever.

Charles Lamb
The man must have a rare recipe for melancholy, who can be dull in Fleet Street.

The man must have a rare recipe for melancholy, who can be dull in Fleet Street.

Charles Lamb
Pain is life - the sharper, the more evidence of life.

Pain is life - the sharper, the more evidence of life.

Charles Lamb
What is reading, but silent conversation.

What is reading, but silent conversation.

Charles Lamb
Let us live for the beauty of our own reality.

Let us live for the beauty of our own reality.

Charles Lamb
She unbent her mind afterwards - over a book.

She unbent her mind afterwards - over a book.

Charles Lamb
New Year's Day is every man's birthday.

New Year's Day is every man's birthday.

Charles Lamb
Lawyers, I suppose, were children once.

Lawyers, I suppose, were children once.

Charles Lamb
I am determined that my children shall be brought up in their father's religion, if they can find out what it is.

I am determined that my children shall be brought up in their father's religion, if they can find out what it is.

Charles Lamb
I love to lose myself in other men's minds.... Books think for me.

I love to lose myself in other men's minds.... Books think for me.

Charles Lamb
A book reads the better which is our own, and has been so long known to us, that we know the topography of its blots, and dog's ears, and can trace the dirt in it to having read it at tea with buttered muffins.

A book reads the better which is our own, and has been so long known to us, that we know the topography of its blots, and dog's ears, and can trace the dirt in it to having read it at tea with buttered muffins.

Charles Lamb
The greatest pleasure I know is to do a good action by stealth, and to have it found out by accident.

The greatest pleasure I know is to do a good action by stealth, and to have it found out by accident.

Charles Lamb
Don't introduce me to that man! I want to go on hating him, and I can't hate a man whom I know.

Don't introduce me to that man! I want to go on hating him, and I can't hate a man whom I know.

Charles Lamb
Think what you would have been now, if instead of being fed with tales and old wives' fables in childhood, you had been crammed with geography and natural history!

Think what you would have been now, if instead of being fed with tales and old wives' fables in childhood, you had been crammed with geography and natural history!

Charles Lamb
My theory is to enjoy life, but the practice is against it.

My theory is to enjoy life, but the practice is against it.

Charles Lamb
I love to lose myself in other men's minds. When I am not walking, I am reading, I cannot sit and think. Books think for me

I love to lose myself in other men's minds. When I am not walking, I am reading, I cannot sit and think. Books think for me

Charles Lamb
Not many sounds in life, and I include all urban and all rural sounds, exceed in interest a knock at the door.

Not many sounds in life, and I include all urban and all rural sounds, exceed in interest a knock at the door.

Charles Lamb
Newspapers always excite curiosity. No one ever lays one down without a feeling of disappointment.

Newspapers always excite curiosity. No one ever lays one down without a feeling of disappointment.

Charles Lamb
I love to lose myself in other men's minds

I love to lose myself in other men's minds

Charles Lamb
I mean your borrowers of books - those mutilators of collections, spoilers of the symmetry of shelves, and creators of odd volumes.

I mean your borrowers of books - those mutilators of collections, spoilers of the symmetry of shelves, and creators of odd volumes.

Charles Lamb
Cultivate simplicity or rather should I say banish elaborateness, for simplicity springs spontaneous from the heart.

Cultivate simplicity or rather should I say banish elaborateness, for simplicity springs spontaneous from the heart.

Charles Lamb
Rather was it not a series of seven uneasy days, spent in restless pursuit of pleasure, and a wearisome anxiety to find out how to make the most of them? Where was the quiet, where the promised rest?

Rather was it not a series of seven uneasy days, spent in restless pursuit of pleasure, and a wearisome anxiety to find out how to make the most of them? Where was the quiet, where the promised rest?

Charles Lamb
There is more reason to say grace before beginning a book than there is to say it before beginning to dine.

There is more reason to say grace before beginning a book than there is to say it before beginning to dine.

Charles Lamb
I love to lose myself in other men's minds. When I am not walking, I am reading.

I love to lose myself in other men's minds. When I am not walking, I am reading.

Charles Lamb
Dream not...of having tasted all the grandeur & wildness of Fancy, till you have gone mad.

Dream not...of having tasted all the grandeur & wildness of Fancy, till you have gone mad.

Charles Lamb
Friend of my bosom, thou more than a brother, Why wert thou not born in my father's dwelling?

Friend of my bosom, thou more than a brother, Why wert thou not born in my father's dwelling?

Charles Lamb
Time partially reconciles us to anything.

Time partially reconciles us to anything.

Charles Lamb
Credulity is the man's weakness, but the child's strength.

Credulity is the man's weakness, but the child's strength.

Charles Lamb
Oftentimes these ministers of darkness tell us truths in little things, to betray us into deeds of greatest consequence.

Oftentimes these ministers of darkness tell us truths in little things, to betray us into deeds of greatest consequence.

Charles Lamb