I can discover no political evil in suffering bullies, sharpers, and rakes, to rid the world of each other by a method of their own; where the law hath not been able to find an expedient.

Exploding many things under the name of trifles is a very false proof either of wisdom or magnanimity, and a great check to virtuous actions with regard to fame.

Satire is a sort of glass, wherein beholders do generally discover everybody's face but their own.

A true critic, in the perusal of a book, is like a dog at a feast, whose thoughts and stomach are wholly set upon what the guests fling away, and consequently is apt to snarl most when there are the fewest bones.

Nothing is so great an instance of ill-manners as flattery.

An English tongue, if refined to a certain standard, might perhaps be fixed forever.

Men always grow vicious before they become unbelievers.