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.

I know that I have had friends who would never have vexed or betrayed me, if they had walked on all fours.

[The] taste [of the French] is too timid to be true taste--or is but half taste.

Men are often capable of greater things than they perform - They are sent into the world with bills of credit, and seldom draw to their full extent.

That strange premature genius Chatterton has couched in one line the quintessence of what Voltaire has said in many pages: "Reason, a thorn in Revelation's side.

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

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