Wentworth Dillon, 4th Earl of Roscommon Quotes

Choose an author as you would a friend.

Truth and fiction are so aptly mixed that all seems uniform and of a piece.

The men, who labour and digest things most, Will be much apter to despond than boast; For if your author be profoundly good, 'Twill cost you dear before he's understood.

Sound judgment is the ground of writing well.

Abstruse and mystic thoughts you must express With painful care, but seeming easiness; For truth shines brightest thro' the plainest dress.

Words are like leaves; some wither every year, and every year a younger race succeed.

Invention is not so much the result of labor as of judgment.

Words once spoken can never be recalled.

Beware what spirit rages in your breast; for one inspired, ten thousand are possessed.

What you keep by you, you may change and mend but words, once spoken, can never be recalled.

Immodest words admit of no defence, For want of decency is want of sense.

The last loud trumpet's wondrous sound, Shall thro' the rending tombs rebound, And wake the nations under ground.

Grief dejects and wrings the tortured soul.

I will not quarrel with a slight mistake, Such as our nature's frailty may excuse.

Our heroes of the former days deserved and gained their never-fading bays.

Let us not write at a loose rambling rate, in hope the world will wink at all our faults.

The multitude is always wrong.

You gain your point if your industrious art can make unusual words easy.