Poetry, with all its obscurity, has a more general as well as a more powerful dominion over the passions than the art of painting.

The introduction of Christianity, which, under whatever form, always confers such inestimable benefits on mankind, soon made a sensible change in these rude and fierce manners.

Applause is the spur of noble minds, the end and aim of weak ones.

Nothing ought to be more weighed than the nature of books recommended by public authority. So recommended, they soon form the character of the age.

All human laws are, properly speaking, only declaratory; they may alter the mode and application, but have no power over the substance of original justice.

The ocean is an object of no small terror.

I cannot conceive how any man can have brought himself to that pitch of presumption, to consider his country as nothing but carte blanche, upon which he may scribble whatever he pleases.