Milton, Madam, was a genius that could cut a Colossus from a rock; but could not carve heads upon cherry-stones.

Such is the constitution of Man that labor may be said to be its own re-ward.

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

Language is only the instrument of science, and words are but the signs of ideas.

Most vices may be committed very genteelly: a man may debauch his friend's wife genteelly: he may cheat at cards genteelly

Be not too hasty to trust or to admire the teachers of morality; they discourse like angels, but they live like men.

I look upon this as I did upon the Dictionary: it is all work, and my inducement to it is not love or desire of fame, but the want of money, which is the only motive to writing that I know of.