Mere poets are sottish as mere drunkards are, who live in a continual mist, without seeing or judging anything clearly. A man should be learned in several sciences, and should have a reasonable, philosophical and in some measure a mathematical head, to be a complete and excellent poet.
Dead men tell no tales.
Deathless laurel is the victor's due.
Even victors are by victories undone.
I never saw any good that came of telling truth.
All habits gather by unseen degrees.