The love of fame is a passion natural and universal, which no man, however high or mean, however wise or ignorant, was yet able to despise.

He who would govern his actions by the laws of virtue must regulate his thoughts by those of reason.

It ought to be the first endeavour of a writer to distinguish nature from custom; or that which is established because it is right, from that which is right only because it is established; that he may neither violate essential principles by a desire of novelty, nor debar himself from the attainment of beauties within his view, by a needless fear of breaking rules which no literary dictator had authority to enact.

Nay, Sir, those who write in them, write well, in order to be paid well.

Whosoever shall look heedfully upon those who are eminent for their riches will not think their condition such as that he should hazard his quiet, and much less his virtue, to obtain it, for all that great wealth generally gives above a moderate fortune is more room for the freaks of caprice, and more privilege for ignorance and vice, a quicker succession of flatteries, and a larger circle of voluptuousness.

The 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.

Those writers who lie on the watch for novelty can have little hope of greatness; for great things cannot have escaped former observation.