The duty of criticism is neither to depreciate nor dignify by partial representations, but to hold out the light of reason, whatever it may discover; and to promulgate the determinations of truth, whatever she shall dictate

Criticism, as it was first instituted by Aristotle, was meant as a standard of judging well.

Sir, you must not neglect doing a thing immediately good from fear of remote evil; - from fear of its being abused.

Politics are now nothing more than means of rising in the world.

Wit will never make a man rich, but there are places where riches will always make a wit.

Every man speaks and writes with intent to be understood; and it can seldom happen but he that understands himself, might convey his notions to another, if, content to be understood, he did not seek to be admired; but when once he begins to contrive how his sentiments may be received, not with most ease to his reader, but with most advantage to himself, he then transfers his consideration from words to sounds, from sentences to periods, and, as he grows more elegant, becomes less intelligible.

Wasting a fortune is evaporation by a thousand imperceptible means.