Genius is always sufficiently the enemy of genius by over influence. The literature of every nation bear me witness. The English dramatic poets have Shakspearized now for two hundred years.

The world of men show like a comedy without laughter: populations, interests, government, history; 't is all toy figures in a toyhouse.

A man comes to measure his greatness by the regrets, envies and hatreds of his competitors.

God screens us evermore from premature ideas.

An action is the perfection and publication of thought. A right action seems to fill the eye, and to be related to all nature.

Great is paint; nay, God is the painter; and we rightly accuse the critic who destroys too many illusions. Society does not love its unmaskers.

The mark of the man of the world is absence of pretension. He does not make a speech; he takes a low business-tone, avoids all brag, is nobody, dresses plainly, promises not at all, performs much, speaks in monosyllables, hugs his fact.