"But Conversation, choose what theme we may, And chiefly when religion leads the way, Should flow, like waters after summer show'rs, Not as if raised by mere mechanic powers."

"But that disease when soberly defined Is the false fire of an o'erheated mind."

"That good diffused may more abundant grow."

"Our wasted oil unprofitably burns, Like hidden lamps in old sepulchral urns."

"I pity bashful men, who feel the pain Of fancied scorn and undeserved disdain, And bear the marks upon a blushing face, Of needless shame, and self-impos'd disgrace."

"His wit invites you by his looks to come, But when you knock it never is at home."

"The solemn fop; significant and budge; A fool with judges, amongst fools a judge."

"I cannot talk with civet in the room, A fine puss-gentleman that's all perfume."

"Pernicious weed! whose scent the fair annoys, Unfriendly to society's chief joys, Thy worst effect is banishing for hours The sex whose presence civilizes ours."

"The pipe, with solemn interposing puff, Makes half a sentence at a time enough; The dozing sages drop the drowsy strain, Then pause, and puff—and speak, and pause again."

"A tale should be judicious, clear, succinct; The language plain, and incidents well link’d; Tell not as new what ev’ry body knows; And, new or old, still hasten to a close."

"A moral, sensible, and well-bred man Will not affront me, and no other can."

"He would not, with a peremptory tone, Assert the nose upon his face his own."

"'Tis hard if all is false that I advance, A fool must now and then be right by chance."

"Laugh at all you trembled at before."

"No wild enthusiast ever yet could rest, Till half mankind were like himself possess'd."

"How shall I speak thee, or thy power address, Thou god of our idolatry, the Press? By thee religion, liberty, and laws, Exert their influence and advance their cause: By thee worse plagues than Pharaoh’s land befell, Diffused, make Earth the vestibule of Hell; Thou fountain, at which drink the good and wise, Thou ever-bubbling spring of endless lies; Like Eden’s dread probationary tree, Knowledge of good and evil is from thee!"

"How much a dunce that has been sent to roam Excels a dunce that has been kept at home."

"As creeping ivy clings to wood or stone, And hides the ruin that it feeds upon; So sophistry cleaves close to and protects Sin’s rotten trunk, concealing its defects."

"Remorse, the fatal egg by Pleasure laid."

"Himself a wanderer from the narrow way, His silly sheep, what wonder if they stray?"

"Oh, laugh or mourn with me the rueful jest, A cassock’d huntsman and a fiddling priest!"

"Lights of the world, and stars of human race."

"Nature, exerting an unwearied power, Forms, opens, and gives scent to every flower; Spreads the fresh verdure of the field, and leads The dancing Naiads through the dewy meads."

"But he (his musical finesse was such, So nice his ear, so delicate his touch) Made poetry a mere mechanic art, And ev'ry warbler has his tune by heart."

"Low ambition and the thirst of praise."

"Elegant as simplicity, and warm As ecstasy."

"Ages elapsed ere Homer's lamp appear'd, And ages ere the Mantuan swan was heard: To carry nature lengths unknown before, To give a Milton birth, ask'd ages more."

"Manner is all in all, whate'er is writ, The substitute for genius, sense, and wit."

"I play with syllables and sport in song."

"Stamps God's own name upon a lie just made, To turn a penny in the way of trade."

"Freedom has a thousand charms to show, That slaves, howe'er contented, never know."

"Thus happiness depends, as Nature shows, Less on exterior things than most suppose."

"Admirals extolled for standing still, Or doing nothing with a deal of skill."

"As if the world and they were hand and glove."

"Is base in kind, and born to be a slave."

"Glory, built On selfish principles, is shame and guilt."

"Hark, my soul! it is the Lord; 'Tis thy (Saviour, hear his word; Jesus speaks, and speaks to thee: "Say, poor sinner, lov'st thou me?""

"There is a fountain fill'd with blood Drawn from Emmanuel's veins; And sinners, plung'd beneath that flood, Lose all their guilty stains."

"Blind unbelief is sure to err, And scan his work in vain; God is his own interpreter, And he will make it plain."

"His purposes will ripen fast, Unfolding every hour; The bud may have a bitter taste, But sweet will be the flower."

"Behind a frowning providence He hides a smiling face."

"Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take, The clouds ye so much dread, Are big with mercy, and shall break In blessings on your head."

"Deep in unfathomable mines Of never failing skill, He treasures up his bright designs, And works his sovereign will."

"God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform; He plants his footsteps in the sea, And rides upon the storm."

"And Satan trembles when he sees The weakest saint upon his knees."