The poet must be alike polished by an intercourse with the world as with the studies of taste; one to whom labour is negligence, refinement a science, and art a nature.

Bayle, when writing on "Comets," discovered this; for having collected many things applicable to his work, as they stood quoted in some modern writers, when he came to compare them with their originals, he was surprised to find that they were nothing for his purpose! the originals conveyed a quite contrary sense to that of the pretended quoters, who often, from innocent blundering, and sometimes from purposed deception, had falsified their quotations. This is an useful story for second-hand authorities!

After all, it is style alone by which posterity will judge of a great work, for an author can have nothing truly his own but his style.

Proverbs were bright shafts in the Greek and Latin quivers.

The delights of reading impart the vivacity of youth even to old age.

Happy the man when he has not the defects of his qualities.

A poet is a painter of the soul.