Quote #10

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.

More from Laurence Sterne

  1. Persuasion hung upon his lips, and the elements of Logick and Rhetorick were so blended up in him, - and, withall, he had so shrewd guess a…
  2. The history of a soldier's wound beguiles the pain of it.
  3. 'Tis known by the name of perseverance in a good cause - and of obstinacy in a bad one.
  4. The desire of knowledge, like the thirst of riches, increases ever with the acquisition of it.
  5. Whistled up to London, upon a Tom Fool's errand.
  6. Writing, when properly managed, (as you may be sure I think mine is) is but a different name for conversation.
  7. He was within a few hours of giving his enemies the slip forever.
  8. Go poor Devil, get thee gone, why should I hurt thee? - This world surely is wide enough to hold both thee and me.

All Laurence Sterne quotes