Plenty of people wish to become devout, but no one wishes to be humble.

An indiscreet man is more hurtful than an ill-natured one; for as the latter will only attack his enemies, and those he wishes ill to, the other injures indifferently both friends and foes.

Among the English authors, Shakespeare has incomparably excelled all others. That noble extravagance of fancy, which he had in so great perfection, thoroughly qualified him to touch the weak, superstitious part of his readers' imagination, and made him capable of succeeding where he had nothing to support him besides the strength of his own genius.

Tradition is an important help to history, but its statements should be carefully scrutinized before we rely on them.

The most exquisite words and finest strokes of an author are those which very often appear the most doubtful and exceptionable to a man who wants a relish for polite learning; and they are those which a sour undistinguishing critic generally attacks with the greatest violence.

That he delights in the misery of others no man will confess, and yet what other motive can make a father cruel?

There is nothing touches our imagination so much as a beautiful woman in a plain dress.