Temple was a man of the world amongst men of letters, a man of letters amongst men of the world.

Language is the machine of the poet.

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

The real object of the drama is the exhibition of human character.

Few of the many wise apothegms which have been uttered have prevented a single foolish action.

The Life of Johnson is assuredly a great, a very great work. Homer is not more decidedly the first of heroic poets. Shakespeare is not more decidedly the first of dramatists, Demosthenes is not more decidedly the first of orators, than Boswell is the first of biographers. He has no second.

The best portraits are perhaps those in which there is a slight mixture of caricature; and we are not certain that the best histories are not those in which a little of the exaggeration of fictitious narrative is judiciously employed. Something is lost in accuracy; but much is gained in effect. The fainter lines are neglected; but the great characteristic features are imprinted on the mind forever.