Though beauty is, with the most apt similitude, I had almost said with the most literal truth, called a flower that fades and dies almost in the very moment of its maturity; yet there is, methinks, a kind of beauty which lives even to old age; a beauty that is not in the features, but, if I may be allowed the expression, shines through them. As it is not merely corporeal it is not the object of mere sense, nor is it to be discovered but by persons of true taste and refined sentiment.

Genius always looks forward, and not only sees what is, but what necessarily will be.

O wearisome condition of humanity! Born under one law, to another bound; Vainly begot and yet forbidden vanity; Created sick, commanded to be sound.

It is in numberless instances happier to have a false opinion which we believe true, than a true one of which we doubt.

How happy is it for us, that the admiration of others should depend so much more on their ignorance than our perfection!

The criterion of true beauty is that it increases on examination; if false, that it lessens.

We are oftener deceived by being told some truth than no truth.