The artist must imitate that which is within the thing, that which is active through form and figure, and discourses to us by symbols.

Poetry: the best words in the best order.

Every reform, however necessary, will by weak minds be carried to an excess, that itself will need reforming.

Forth from his dark and lonely hiding-place, (Portentous sight!) the owlet Atheism, sailing on obscene wings athwart the noon, drops his blue-fringed lids, and holds them close, and hooting at the glorious sun in Heaven, cries out, ''Where is it?''

You may depend upon it, religion is, in its essence, the most gentlemanly thing in the world. It will alone gentilize, if unmixed with cant; and I know nothing else that will, alone. Certainly not the army, which is thought to be the grand embellisher of manners.

What is an epigram? A dwarfish whole, its body brevity, and wit its soul.

A man may devote himself to death and destruction to save a nation; but no nation will devote itself to death and destruction to save mankind.