Imitation pleases, because it affords matter for inquiring into the truth or falsehood of imitation, by comparing its likeness or unlikeness with the original.

For those whom God to ruin has design'd, He fits for fate, and first destroys their mind.

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.

Happy the man, and happy he alone, he who can call today his own; he who, secure within, can say, tomorrow do thy worst, for I have lived today.

We must beat the iron while it is hot, but we may polish it at leisure.

Pity melts the mind to love.

When bounteous autumn rears her head, he joys to pull the ripened pear.