All violation of established practice implies in its own nature a rejection of the common opinion, a defiance of common censure, and an appeal from general laws to private judgment: he, therefore, who differs form others without apparent advantage, ought not to be angry if his arrogance is punished with ridicule; if those whose example he superciliously overlooks, point him out to derision, and hoot him back again into the common road.

It is as bad as bad can be: it is ill-fed, ill-killed, ill-kept, and ill-drest.

Men have solicitude about fame; and the greater share they have of it, the more afraid they are of losing it.

I would not give half a guinea to live under one form of government rather than another. It is of no moment to the happiness of an individual.

We must consider how very little history there is--I mean real, authentic history. That certain kings reigned and certain battles were fought, we can depend upon as true; but all the coloring, all the philosophy, of history is conjecture.

..to write and to live are very different. Many who praise virtue, do no more than praise it.

If in an actor there appears an utter vacancy of meaning, a frigid equality, a stupid languor, a torpid apathy, the greatest kindness that can be shown him is a speedy sentence of expulsion.