Exactness is first obtained, and afterwards elegance. But diction, merely vocal, is always in its childhood. As no man leaves his eloquence behind him, the new generations have all to learn. There may possibly be books without a polished language, but there can be no polished language without books.

The stream of Time, which is continually washing the dissoluble fabrics of other poets, passes without injury by the adamant of Shakespeare.

People may be taken in once, who imagine that an author is greater in private life than other men.

Critics, like the rest of mankind, are very frequently misled by interest.

When the original is well chosen and judiciously copied, the imitator often arrives at excellence which he could never have attained without direction; for few are formed with abilities to discover new possibilities of excellence, and to distinguish themselves by means never tried before.

Politeness is one of those advantages which we never estimate rightly but by the inconvenience of its loss.

I am always sorry when any language is lost, because languages are the pedigrees of nations.