Those who attain any excellence, commonly spend life in one pursuit; for excellence is not often gained upon easier terms.

When any anxiety or gloom of the mind takes hold of you, make it a rule not to publish it by complaining; but exert yourselves to hide it, and by endeavoring to hide it you drive it away.

Criticism, as it was first instituted by Aristotle, was meant as a standard of judging well.

My diseases are an asthma and a dropsy and, what is less curable, seventy-five.

I advised Chambers, and would advise every young man beginning to compose, to do it as fast as he can, to get a habit of having his mind to start promptly; it is so much more difficult to improve in speed than in accuracy.

A coxcomb is ugly all over with the effectation of a fine gentleman.

Each person's work is always a portrait of himself.