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!

The art of quotation requires more delicacy in the practice than those conceive who can see nothing more in a quotation than an extract.

Philosophy becomes poetry, and science imagination, in the enthusiasm of genius.

Enthusiasm is that secret and harmonious spirit which hovers over the production of genius.

A circle may be small, yet it may be as mathematically beautiful and perfect as a large one.

Such do not always understand the authors whose names adorn their barren pages, and which are taken, too, from the third or the thirtieth hand. Those who trust to such false quoters will often learn how contrary this transmission is to the sense and application of the original. Every transplantation has altered the fruit of the tree; every new channel, the quality of the stream in its remove from the spring-head.

A poet is a painter of the soul.