Rare virtues are like rare plants or animals, things that have not been able to hold their own in the world. A virtue to be serviceable must, like gold, be alloyed with some commoner but more durable metal.
More Quotes from Samuel Butler:
In law, nothing is certain but the expense.Samuel Butler
God as now generally conceived of is only the last witch.
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Let us be grateful to the mirror for revealing to us our appearance only.
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Or shear swine, all cry and no wool.
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Christ was only crucified once and for a few hours. Think of the hundreds of thousands whom Christ has been crucifying in a quiet way ever since.
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The one serious conviction that a man should have is that nothing is to be taken too seriously.
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Based on Topics: Animals Quotes, Gold Quotes, Vice & Virtue Quotes, World QuotesBased on Keywords: alloyed, commoner
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