Immitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

The greatest genius is never so great as when it is chastised and subdued by the highest reason.

To be a mere verbal critic is what no man of genius would be if he could; but to be a critic of true taste and feeling is what no man without genius could be if he would.

To know the pains of power, we must go to those who have it; to know its pleasures, we must go to those who are seeking it: the pains of power are real, its pleasures imaginary.

Knowledge is two-fold, and consists not only in an affirmation of what is true, but in the negation of that which is false.

If we look backwards to antiquity it should be as those that are winning a race.

Subtract from many modern poets all that may be found in Shakespeare, and trash will remain.