Who is Joseph Addison

Joseph Addison (1 May 1672 – 17 June 1719) was an English essayist, poet, playwright and politician. He was the eldest son of The Reverend Lancelot Addison. His name is usually remembered alongside that of his long-standing friend Richard Steele, with whom he founded The Spectator magazine. His simple prose style marked the end of the mannerisms and conventional classical images of the 17th century.

Life and work

Background

Addison was born in Milston, Wiltshire, but soon after his birth his father, Lancelot Addison, was appointed Dean of Lichfield and the family moved into the cathedral close. His father was a scholarly English clergyman. Joseph was educated at Charterhouse School, London, where he first met Richard Steele, and at The Queen's Col...
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Joseph Addison Poems

• Ode To Creation
  The Spacious Firmament on high,
  With all the blue Ethereal Sky,
  And spangled Heav'ns, a Shining Frame,
  Their great Original proclaim: ...
• A Song For St. Cecilia's Day
  I.
  
  Cecilia, whose exalted hymns
  With joy and wonder fill the blest, ...
• A Poem To His Magesty, Presented To The Lord Keeper. To The Right Hon. Sir John Somers, Lord Keeper
  If yet your thoughts are loose from state affairs,
  Nor feel the burden of a kingdom's cares;
  If yet your time and actions are your own;
  Receive the present of a Muse unknown: ...
• The Campaign
  The Campaign, A Poem, To His Grace The Duke Of Marlborough
  
  While crowds of princes your deserts proclaim,
  Proud in their number to enrol your name; ...
• How Are Thy Servants Blest
  How are thy servants blest, O Lord!
  How sure is their defence!
  Eternal wisdom is their guide,
  Their help Omnipotence. ...

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Joseph Addison Quotes

• I do not believe that sheer suffering teaches. If suffering alone taught, all the world would be wise, since everyone suffers. To suffering must be added mourning, understanding, patience, love, openness and the willingness to remain vulnerable.
• Arguments out of a pretty mouth are unanswerable.
• I value my garden more for being full of blackbirds than of cherries, and very frankly give them fruit for their songs.
• Man is distinguished from all other creatures by the faculty of laughter.
• Exercise ferments the humors, casts them into their proper channels, throws off redundancies, and helps nature in those secret distributions, without which the body cannot subsist in its vigor, nor the soul act with cheerfulness.

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Comments about Joseph Addison

• Lifecoachmary: the great essentials to happiness in this life are something to do, something to love, and something to hope for. -joseph addison
• Lafeum_en: "a good book is a gift bequeathed by the author to the human race." - joseph addison
• Nazuranur421516: don joseph wanda addison jill harrod
• Boo_late: true happiness arises, in the first place, from the enjoyment of one’s self..joseph addison kodrea magical starry night
• Gunnjunhavatt: “i’m still alive to thank god because all my prayer was not granted”. – joseph addison –

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