Praise, like gold and diamonds, owes its value only to its scarcity. It becomes cheap as it becomes vulgar, and will no longer raise expectation or animate enterprise.

When once the forms of civility are violated, there remains little hope of return to kindness or decency.

The essence of poetry is invention; such invention as, by producing something unexpected, surprises and delights.

Those authors who would find many readers, must endeavour to please while they instruct.

To let friendship die away by negligence and silence is certainly not wise. It is voluntarily to throw away one of the greatest comforts of the weary pilgrimage.

When any calamity is suffered, the first thing to be remembered is, how much has been escaped.

We go from anticipation to anticipation, not from satisfaction to satisfaction.