Highest among those who have exhibited human nature by means of dialogue stands Shakespeare. His variety is like the variety of nature,--endless diversity, scarcely any monstrosity.

The maxim, that governments ought to train the people in the way in which they should go, sounds well. But is there any reason for believing that a government is more likely to lead the people in the right way than the people to fall into the right way of themselves?

Logicians may reason about abstractions. But the great mass of men must have images. The strong tendency of the multitude in all ages and nations to idolatry can be explained on no other principle.

That is the best government which desires to make the people happy, and knows how to make them happy.

Shakespeare has had neither equal nor second.

I wish I was as sure of anything as he is of everything.

A kind of semi-Solomon, half-knowing everything, from the cedar to the hyssop.