Criticism is a study by which men grow important and formidable at very small expense. The power of invention has been conferred by nature upon few, and the labour of learning those sciences which may, by mere labour, be obtained, is too great to be willingly endured; but every man can exert some judgment as he has upon the works of others; and he whom nature has made weak, and idleness keeps ignorant, may yet support his vanity by the name of critic.

Some read for style, and some for argument: one has little care about the sentiment, he observes only how it is expressed; another regards not the conclusion, but is diligent to mark how it is inferred; they read for other purposes than the attainment of practical knowledge; and are no more likely to grow wise by an examination of a treatise of moral prudence, than an architect to inflame his devotion by considering attentively the proportions of a temple.

All the arguments which are brought to represent poverty as no evil show it evidently to be a great evil.

Network. Anything reticulated or decussated at equal distances, with interstices between the intersections.

Allegories drawn to great length will always break.

No man tells his opinion so freely as when he imagines it received with implicit veneration.

God Himself, sir, does not propose to judge a man until his life is over. Why should you and I?