Poverty, when it is voluntary, is never despicable, but takes an heroical aspect.

It is not the passion of a mind struggling with misfortune, or the hopelessness of its desires, but of a mind preying on itself, and disgusted with, or indifferent to all other things.

The English (it must be owned) are rather a foul-mouthed nation.

If we wish to know the force of human genius, we should read Shakespeare. If we wish to see the insignificance of human learning, we may study his commentators.

Words are the only things that last for ever.

The truth is, we pamper little griefs into great ones, and bear great ones as well as we can.

I hate anything that occupies more space than it is worth... I hate to see a parcel of big words without anything in them.