Men are most powerfully affected by those evils which themselves feel, or which appear before their own eyes.

As the mind must govern the hands, so in every society the man of intelligence must direct the man of labor.

Nothing is more idle than to inquire after happiness, which nature has kindly placed within our reach.

A blade of grass is always a blade of grass, whether in one country or another.

Exert your talents, and distinguish yourself, and don't think of retiring from the world, until the world will be sorry that you retire.

A simile, to be perfect, must both illustrate and ennoble the subject; must show it to the understanding in a clearer view, and display it to the fancy with greater dignity; but either of these qualities may be sufficient to recommend it.... That it may be complete, it is required to exhibit, independently of its references, a pleasing image; for a simile is said to be a short episode.

To expect that the intricacies of science will be pierced by a careless glance, or the eminences of fame ascended without labour, is to expect a peculiar privilege, a power denied to the rest of mankind; but to suppose that the maze is inscrutable to diligence, or the heights inaccessible to perseverance, is to submit tamely to the tyranny of fancy, and enchain the mind in voluntary shackles.