History is a romance that is believed; romance, a history that is not believed.

It was said of old Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough, that she never puts dots over her I s, to save ink.

Shakespeare, with an improved education and in a more enlightened age, might easily have attained the purity and correction of Racine; but nothing leads one to suppose that Racine in a barbarous age would have attained the grandeur, force and nature of Shakespeare.

This world is a comedy to those that think, a tragedy to those that feel.

Life is a farce, and should not end with a mourning scene.

When Shakespeare copied chroniclers verbatim, it was because he knew they were good enough for his audiences. In a more polished age he who could so move our passions, could surely have performed the easier task of satisfying our taste.

Oh, we are ridiculous animals; and if the angels have any fun in them, how we must divert them!