Men, even when alone, lighten their labors by song, however rude it may be.

Virtue, though she gets her beginning from nature, yet receives her finishing touches from learning.

A man who tries to surpass another may perhaps succeed in equaling inot actually surpassing him, but one who merely follows can never quite come up with him: a follower, necessarily, is always behind.

The obscurity of a writer is generally in proportion to his incapacity.

The mind is exercised by the variety and multiplicity of the subject matter, while the character is moulded by the contemplation of virtue and vice.

We must form our minds by reading deep rather than wide.

The learned understand the reason of art; the unlearned feel the pleasure.