Thomas Fuller (1608-1661)

Thomas Fuller was an English churchman and historian. He is now remembered for his writings, particularly his Worthies of England, published in 1662, after his death. He was a prolific author, and one of the first English writers able to live by his pen.

Quotes

A gift, with a kind countenance, is a double present.
Anger is one of the sinners of the soul.
Be a friend to thyself, and others will be so too.
He is not laughed at who laughs at himself first.
If it were not for hope, the heart would break.
He that is busy is tempted by but one devil; he that is idle, by a legion.

Laziness
It is madness for sheep to talk peace with a wolf.
The great end of life is not knowledge, but action.

Knowledge
If you are too fortunate, you will not know yourself. If you are too unfortunate, nobody will know you.
He that will not sail until all dangers are over, will never put to sea.

Courage
If thou are a master, be sometimes blind; if a servant, sometimes deaf.
Enquire not what boils in another's pot.
Purchase not friends by gifts; when thou ceasest to give, such will cease to love.

Friendship, Giving
Be not extravagantly high in expression of thy commendations of men thou likest, it may make the hearer's stomach rise.
Know most of the rooms of thy native country before thou goest over the threshold thereof.
One that would have the fruit must climb the tree.
No man can be happy without a friend, nor be sure of his friend until he is unhappy.
He that fears your presence will hate you absence.
Judge of thine improvement, not by what thou speakest or writest, but by the firmness of thy mind, and the government of thy passions and affections.
Memory depends very much on the perspicuity, regularity, and order of our thoughts. Many complain of the want of memory, when the defect is in the judgment; and others, by grasping at all, retain nothing.