No man can fall into contempt but those who deserve it.

When the original is well chosen and judiciously copied, the imitator often arrives at excellence which he could never have attained without direction; for few are formed with abilities to discover new possibilities of excellence, and to distinguish themselves by means never tried before.

Every man wishes to be wise, and they who cannot be wise are almost always cunning.

We are inclined to believe those whom we do not know because they have never deceived us.

The mental disease of the present generation is impatience of study, contempt of the great masters of ancient wisdom, and a disposition to rely wholly upon unassisted genius and natural sagacity.

Politeness is one of those advantages which we never estimate rightly but by the inconvenience of its loss.

Great abilities are not requisite for an Historian; for in historical composition, all the greatest powers of the human mind are quiescent.