Fame often rests at first upon something accidental, and often, too, is swept away, or for a time removed; but neither genius nor glory, is conferred at once, nor do they glimmer and fall, like drops in a grotto, at a shout.

He who first praises a book becomingly is next in merit to the author.

We listen to those whom we know to be of the same opinion as ourselves, and we call them wise for being of it; but we avoid such as differ from us.

Where power is absent we may find the robe of genius, but we miss the throne.

Wherever there is excessive wealth, there is also in the train of it excessive poverty.

Study is the bane of childhood, the oil of youth, the indulgence of adulthood, and a restorative in old age.

The worse of ingratitude lies not in the ossified heart of him who commits it, but we find it in the effect it produces on him against whom it was committed.