Whatever is formed for long duration arrives slowly to its maturity.

Always, Sir, set a high value on spontaneous kindness.

The purpose of a writer is to be read, and the criticism which would destroy the power of pleasing must be blown aside

Nothing is more common than for men to make partial and absurd distinctions between vices of equal enormity, and to observe some of the divine commands with great scrupulousness, while they violate others, equally important, without any concern, or the least apparent conciousness of guilt. Alas, it is only wisdom which perceives this tragedy.

The authour who imitates his predecessors only by furnishing himself with thoughts and elegances out of the same general magazine of literature, can with little more propriety be reproached as a plagiary, than the architect can be censured as a mean copier of Angelo or Wren, because he digs his marble out of the same quarry, squares his stones by the same art, and unites them in columns of the same orders.

It is better that some should be unhappy rather than that none should be happy, which would be the case in a general state of equality.

Whatever is formed for long duration arrives slowly to its maturity.