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Josh Billings Quotes (1818-1885)
Writer
About Josh Billings
Henry Wheeler Shaw (21 April 1818 – 14 October 1885), most famous under his pen name Josh Billings, was an American humorist. He was perhaps the second most famous humor writer and lecturer in the United States in the 2nd half of the 19th century, after Mark Twain, although his reputation has not fared so well with later generations.
Best Josh Billings Quotes
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Explore our curated collection of the most famous and impactful Josh Billings quotes.
“Yung man, don't grind yure scythe all on one side!”
“Better make a weak man your enemy than your friend.”
“I hate grate talkers; i had rather hav a swarm of bees lite onto me.”
“The wheel that squeaks the loudest
Is the one that gets the grease.”
Is the one that gets the grease.”
“Politeness iz often wasted, but it iz a good and cheap mistake tew make.”
“I beleave in the universal salvashun ov men, but I want tew pick the men.”
“Tew bring up a child in the wa he should go—travel that wa yourself.”
“As scarce as truth is, the supply has always been in excess of the demand.”
“When a doktor looks me square in the face and kant see no money in me, then i am happy.”
“Misanthropy don't pay--thare aint no man living whoze hate the world cares one cuss for.”
“If I had 4 fust rate dogs i would name the best one "Doubtful" and the other 3 "Useless".”
“I hope i shall never hav so much reputashun that i shan't feel obliged to be alwus civil.”
“Thrice is he armed that hath his quarrel just, But four times he who gets his blow in fust”
“Mankind loves misterys--a hole in the ground, excites mor wonder than a star in the heavens.”
Josh Billings Quotes by Topic
Find exactly what you are looking for by browsing this categorized list of Josh Billings quotes by topic.
Josh Billings on Genius 6 quotes
View all 6 quotes on Genius →Josh Billings on Common sense 2 quotes
“Wit, without sense, iz like a razor without a handle”
Josh Billings on Forgiveness
“There is no revenge so complete as forgiveness.”
Josh Billings on Revenge
“There is no revenge so complete as forgiveness.”
Josh Billings on Victory
“One of the greatest victories you can gain over someone is to beat him at politeness.”
Josh Billings on Wealth
Josh Billings on Advice
Josh Billings on Lightning
Josh Billings on Fireflies
Josh Billings on Example
Josh Billings on Wisdom
“Men are often praised for their sagacity, but all the foresight in the world can't tell a double-yoked egg until it is broken.”
Josh Billings on Predictability
“Men are often praised for their sagacity, but all the foresight in the world can't tell a double-yoked egg until it is broken.”
Josh Billings on Foxes
“There iz this difference between genius and common sense in a fox: Common sense is governed by circumstances, but circumstances is governed by genius.”
What Josh Billings Said About Others
Discover personal opinions Josh Billings shared regarding contemporaries.
Josh Billings on Beverly Sills
“In youth, we run into difficulties. In old age, difficulties run into us.”
About Josh Billings
Henry Wheeler Shaw (21 April 1818 – 14 October 1885), most famous under his pen name Josh Billings, was an American humorist. He was perhaps the second most famous humor writer and lecturer in the United States in the 2nd half of the 19th century, after Mark Twain, although his reputation has not fared so well with later generations.