The business of a poet is to examine not the individual but the species; to remark general properties and large appearances.

Bachelors have consciences, married men have wives.

Thought is always troublesome to him who lives without his own approbation.

I advised Chambers, and would advise every young man beginning to compose, to do it as fast as he can, to get a habit of having his mind to start promptly; it is so much more difficult to improve in speed than in accuracy.

They who most loudly clamour for liberty do not most liberally grant it.

The superiority of some men is merely local. They are great because their associates are little.

Suspicion is very often a useless pain.