In truth it may be laid down as an almost universal rule that good poets are bad critics.

No man in the world acts up to his own standard of right.

The best portraits are those in which there is a slight mixture of caricature.

It is certain that satirical poems were common at Rome from a very early period. The rustics, who lived at a distance from the seat of government, and took little part in the strife of factions, gave vent to their petty local animosities in coarse Fescennine verse.

Office of itself does much to equalize politicians. It by no means brings all characters to a level; but it does bring high characters down and low characters up towards a common standard.

The reluctant obedience of distant provinces generally costs more than it - The Territory is worth. Empires which branch out widely are often more flourishing for a little timely pruning.

Thus our democracy was from an early period the most aristocratic, and our aristocracy the most democratic.