It generally happens that assurance keeps an even pace with ability.

The world is like a grand staircase, some are going up and some are going down.

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

There is less flogging in our great schools than formerly-but then less is learned there; so what the boys get at one end they lose at the other.

No place affords a more striking conviction of the vanity of human hopes than a public library.

Where necessity ends, desire and curiosity begin; and no sooner are we supplied with everything nature can demand than we sit down to contrive artificial appetites.

Whatever is formed for long duration arrives slowly to its maturity.