How posterity will laugh at us, one way or other! If half a dozen break their necks, and balloonism is exploded, we shall be called fools for having imagined it could be brought to use: if it should be turned to account, we shall be ridiculed for having doubted.

The curse of modern times is, that almost everything does create controversy.

How well Shakespeare knew how to improve and exalt little circumstances, when he borrowed them from circumstantial or vulgar historians.

Who has begun has half done. Have the courage to be wise. Begin!

I never found even in my juvenile hours that it was necessary to go a thousand miles in search of themes for moralizing.

Pedants make a great rout about criticism, as if it were a science of great depth, and required much pains and knowledge--criticism however is only the result of good sense, taste and judgment--three qualities that indeed seldom are found together, and extremely seldom in a pedant, which most critics are.

Life is a comedy for those who think and a tragedy for those who feel.