We cannot at once catch the applauses of the vulgar and expect the approbation of the wise.

We may receive so much light as not to see, and so much philosophy as to be worse than foolish.

Was genius ever ungrateful? Mere talents are dry leaves, tossed up and down by gusts of passion, and scattered and swept away; but, Genius lies on the bosom of Memory, and Gratitude at her feet.

If there were no falsehood in the world, there would be no doubt, if there were no doubt, there would be no inquiry; if no inquiry, no wisdom, no knowledge, no genius; and Fancy herself would lie muffled up in her robe, inactive, pale, and bloated.

There is no more certain sign of a narrow mind, of stupidity, and of arrogance, than to stand aloof from those who think differently from us.

Truth sometimes corner unawares upon Caution, and sometimes speaks in public as unconsciously as in a dream.

Many laws as certainly make men bad, as bad men make many laws.