Every man naturally persuades himself that he can keep his resolutions, nor is he convinced of his imbecility but by length of time and frequency of experiment.

He that accepts protection, stipulates obedience. We have always protected the Americans; we may therefore subject them to government.

As every writer has his use, every writer ought to have his patrons; and since no man, however high he may now stand, can be certain that he shall not be soon thrown down from his elevation by criticism or caprice, the common interest of learning requires that her sons should cease from intestine hostilities, and, instead of sacrificing each other to malice and contempt, endeavour to avert persecution from the meanest of their fraternity.

Depend upon it, sir, it is when you come close to a man in conservation that you discover what his real abilities are; to make a speech in a public assembly is a knack.

I inherited a vile melancholy from my father, which has made me mad all my life, at least not sober.

That fellow seems to me to possess but one idea, and that is a wrong one.

Words too familiar, or too remote, defeat the purpose of a poet.