Greece appears to be the fountain of knowledge; Rome of elegance

It may be observed in general that the future is purchased by the present. It is not possible to secure distant or permanent happiness but by the forbearance of some immediate gratification.

There is nothing more dreadful to an author than neglect; compared with which reproach, hatred, and opposition are names of happiness; yet this worst, this meanest fate, every one who dares to write has reason to fear.

The true genius is a mind of large general powers, accidentally determined to some particular direction.

When the eye or the imagination is struck with an uncommon work, the next transition of an active mind is to the means by which it was performed

What is easy is seldom excellent.

There is ... scarcely any species of writing of which we can tell what is its essence, and what are its constituents; every new genius produces some innovation, which, when invented and approved, subverts the rules which the practice of foregoing authors had established.