Riches are of no value in themselves; their use is discovered only in that which they procure.

As every writer has his use, every writer ought to have his patrons; and since no man, however high he may now stand, can be certain that he shall not be soon thrown down from his elevation by criticism or caprice, the common interest of learning requires that her sons should cease from intestine hostilities, and, instead of sacrificing each other to malice and contempt, endeavour to avert persecution from the meanest of their fraternity.

A cow is a very good animal in the field; but we turn her out of a garden.

The future is purchased by the present.

History can be formed from permanent monuments and records; but lives can only be written from personal knowledge, which is growing every day less, and in a short time is lost forever.

The only end of writing is to enable readers better to enjoy life or better to endure it.

Scarcely any degree of judgment is sufficient to restrain the imagination from magnifying that on which it is long detained