The care of the critic should be to distinguish error from inability, faults of inexperience from defects of nature.

Then with no throbs of fiery pain, No cold gradations of decay, Death broke at once the vital chain, And freed his soul the nearest way.

The purpose of a writer is to be read, and the criticism which would destroy the power of pleasing must be blown aside

The business of the biographer is often to pass slightly over those performances and incidents which produce vulgar greatness, to lead the thoughts into domestic privacies, and display the minute details of daily life, were exterior appendages are cast aside, and men excel each other only by prudence and virtue.

The misery of man proceeds not from any single crush of overwhelming evil, but from small vexations continually repeated.

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

Resentment gratifies him who intended an injury, and pains him unjustly who did not intend it.