Let him go abroad to a distant country; let him go to some place where he is not known. Don't let him go to the devil, where he is known.

The return of my birthday, if I remember it, fills me with thoughts which it seems to be the general care of humanity to escape.

Admiration must be continued by that novelty which first produces it; and how much soever is given, there must always be reason to imagine that more remains.

The life of a conscientious clergyman is not easy. I have always considered a clergyman as the father of a larger family than he is able to maintain. I would rather have chancery suits upon my hands than the cure of souls.

The whole of life is but keeping away the thoughts of death.

An author places himself uncalled before the tribunal of criticism and solicits fame at the hazard of disgrace.

Criticism is a study by which men grow important and formidable at very small expense. The power of invention has been conferred by nature upon few, and the labour of learning those sciences which may, by mere labour, be obtained, is too great to be willingly endured; but every man can exert some judgment as he has upon the works of others; and he whom nature has made weak, and idleness keeps ignorant, may yet support his vanity by the name of critic.