I forget whether advice be among the lost things which Ariosto says are to be found in the moon: that and time ought to have been there.

The translators of the Bible were masters of an English style much fitter for that work than any we see in our present writings; the which is owing to the simplicity that runs through the whole.

It is the first rule in oratory that a man must appear such as he would persuade others to be: and that can be accomplished only by the force of his life.

... the atheists, libertines, despisers of religion ... that is to say all those who usually pass under the name of Free-thinkers.

When dunces are satiric, I take it for a panegyric.

There are certain common privileges of a writer, the benefit whereof, I hope, there will be no reason to doubt; particularly, that where I am not understood, it shall be concluded, that something very useful and profound is couched underneath; and again, that whatever word or sentence is printed in a different character, shall be judged to contain something extraordinary either or wit of sublime.

I know Sir John will go, though he was sure it would rain cats and dogs.