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S. Austin Allibone, comp. Prose Quotations from Socrates to Macaulay. 1880.

Games

The institution of sports was intended by all governments to turn off the thoughts of the people from busying themselves in matters of state.

Joseph Addison.

It is wonderful to see persons of sense passing away a dozen hours together in shuffling and dividing a pack of cards.

Joseph Addison.

Nothing wears out a fine face like the vigils of the card-table and those cutting passions which attend them.

Joseph Addison.

The games of the ancient Greeks were, in their original institutions, religious solemnities.

William Thomas Brande.

Let the world have their May-games, wakes,… and whatsoever sports and recreations please them, provided they be followed with discretion.

Robert Burton.

Profitable employments would be no less a diversion than any of the idle sports in fashion, if men could but be brought to delight in them.

As to cards and dice, I think the safest and best way is never to learn to play upon them, and so be incapacitated for those dangerous temptations and encroaching wasters of time.