[King René of Anjou (1409-80)] would not listen to the news of his son having lost the Kingdom of Naples, because he would not bedisturbed when painting a picture of a partridge.

Plot, rules, nor even poetry, are not half so great beauties in tragedy or comedy as a just imitation of nature, of character, of the passions and their operations in diversified situations.

The way to ensure summer in England is to have it framed and glazed in a comfortable room.

Virtue knows to a farthing what it has lost by not having been vice.

Poetry is a beautiful way of spoiling prose, and the laborious art of exchanging plain sense for harmony.

When people will not weed their own minds, they are apt to be overrun by nettles.

Our bells are worn threadbare with ringing for victories