A decent provision for the poor is the true test of civilization.

It is unpleasing to represent our affairs to our own disadvantage; yet it is necessary to shew the evils which we desire to be removed.

Wine gives a man nothing. It neither gives him knowledge nor wit; it only animates a man, and enables him to bring out what a dread of the company has repressed. It only puts in motion what had been locked up in frost.

Paradise Lost is a book that, once put down, is very hard to pick up again.

Pound St. Paul's Church into atoms, and consider any single atom; it is to be sure, good for nothing; but put all these atoms together, and you have St. Paul's Church. So it is with human felicity, which is made up of many ingredients, each of which may be shown to be very insignificant.

The care of the critic should be to distinguish error from inability, faults of inexperience from defects of nature.

The dependant who cultivates delicacy in himself very little consults his own tranquillity.