Extended empires are like expanded gold, exchanging solid strength for feeble splendor.
Samuel JohnsonThe world will never be long without some good reason to hate the unhappy; their real faults are immediately detected; and if those are not sufficient to sink them into infamy, an individual weight of calumny will be super-added.
Samuel JohnsonThe real satisfaction which praise can afford, is when what is repeated aloud agrees with the whispers of conscience, by showing us that we have not endeavored to deserve well in vain.
Samuel Johnson