All Quotes

"[U]ncertain ways unsafest are."

"Such is our pride, our folly, or our fate, That few but such as cannot write, translate."

"Nor ought a genius less than his that writ Attempt translation."

"That servile path thou nobly dost decline Of tracing word by word, and line by line; A new and nobler way thou dost pursue To make translations, and translators too; They but preserve the ashes, thou the flame, True to his sense, but truer to his fame."

"Wisdom's first progress is to take a view What's decent or indecent, false or true."

"Wisdom of what herself approves makes choice, Nor is led captive by the common voice. Clear-sighted Reason Wisdom's judgment leads, And Sense, her vassal, in her footsteps treads. That thou to Truth the perfect way may'st know, To thee all her specific forms I'll show: He that the way to honesty will learn, First what's to be avoided must discern. Thyself from flatt'ring self-conceit defend, Nor what thou dost not know to know pretend. Some secrets deep in abstruse darkness lie: To search them thou wilt need a piercing eye. Not rashly therefore to such things assent, Which, undeceived, thou after may'st repent; Study and time in these must thee instruct, And others' old experience may conduct. Wisdom herself her ear doth often lend To counsel offer'd by a faithful friend."

"Books should to one of these four ends conduce, For wisdom, piety, delight, or use."

"When any great design thou dost intend, Think of the means, the manner, and the end."

"Search not to find how other men offend, But by that glass thy own offences mend; Still seek to learn, yet care not much from whom, (So it be learning) or from whence it come. Of thy own actions, others' judgments learn; Often by small, great matters we discern: Youth what man's age is like to be doth show; We may our ends by our beginnings know."

"Let not the pleasing many thee delight, First judge if those whom thou dost please judge right."

"The better sort here pretend to the utmost compassion for animals of every kind. To hear them speak, a stranger would be apt to imagine they could hardly hurt the gnat that stung them: they seem so tender and so full of pity, that one would take them for the harmless friends of the whole creation; the protectors of the meanest insect or reptile that was privileged with existence. And yet, would you believe it? I have seen the very men who have thus boasted of their tenderness, at the same time devouring the flesh of six different animals toasted up in a fricassee. Strange contrariety of conduct! they pity and they eat the objects of their compassion."

"Such dainties to them, their health it might hurt; It's like sending them ruffles, when wanting a shirt."

"There is no arguing with Johnson: for if his pistol misses fire, he knocks you down with the butt end of it."

"[To Mr. Johnson] If you were to make little fishes talk, they would talk like whales."

"You may all go to pot."

"For he who fights and runs away May live to fight another day; But he who is in battle slain Can never rise and fight again."

"One writer, for instance, excels at a plan or a title page, another works away at the body of the book, and a third is a dab at an index."

"The true use of speech is not so much to express our wants as to conceal them."

"As writers become more numerous, it is natural for readers to become more indolent."

"Good people all, with one acord, Lament for Madame Blaize, Who never wanted a good word — From those who spoke her praise."

"The king himself has followed her When she has walk'd before."

"As aromatic plants bestow No spicy fragrance while they grow; But crush'd or trodden to the ground, Diffuse their balmy sweets around."

"That strain once more; it bids remembrance rise."

"O Memory! thou fond deceiver."

"To the last moment of his breath On hope the wretch relies; And e'en the pang preceding death Bids expectation rise."

"Hope, like the gleaming taper's light, Adorns and cheers our way; And still, as darker grows the night, Emits a brighter ray."

"Remote, unfriended, melancholy, slow, Or by the lazy Scheldt, or wandering Po."

"Where'er I roam, whatever realms I see, My heart untraveled fondly turns to thee; Still to my brother turns with ceaseless pain, And drags at each remove a lengthening chain."

"And learn the luxury of doing good."

"Some fleeting good, that mocks me with the view."

"These little things are great to little man."

"Creation's heir, the world, the world is mine!"

"Such is the patriot's boast, where'er we roam, His first, best country ever is, at home."

"Where wealth and freedom reign contentment fails, And honor sinks where commerce long prevails."

"Man seems the only growth that dwindles here."

"The canvas glow'd beyond ev'n Nature warm, The pregnant quarry teem'd with human form."

"By sports like these are all their cares beguil'd; The sports of children satisfy the child."

"But winter lingering chills the lap of May."

"Cheerful at morn, he wakes from short repose, Breasts the keen air, and carols as he goes."

"So the loud torrent and the whirlwind's roar But bind him to his native mountains more."

"Unknown those powers that raise the soul to flame, Catch every nerve, and vibrate through the frame. Their level life is but a mouldering fire, Unquenched by want, unfanned by strong desire."

"Alike all ages. Dames of ancient days Have led their children through the mirthful maze, And the gay grandsire, skill'd in gestic lore, Has frisk'd beneath the burden of threescore."

"They please, are pleased, they give to get esteem, Till, seeming blest, they grow to what they seem."

"To men of other minds my fancy flies, Embosomed in the deep where Holland lies. Methinks her patient sons before me stand, Where the broad ocean leans against the land."

"Pride in their port, defiance in their eye, I see the lords of humankind pass by."

"A book may be very amusing with numerous errors, or it may be very dull without a single absurdity."

"I was ever of the opinion that the honest man who married and brought up a large family, did more service than he who continued single, and only talked of population."

"I...chose a wife, as she did her wedding gown, not for a fine glossy surface, but such qualities as would wear well."

"We sometimes had those little rubs which Providence sends to enhance the value of its favors."

"Handsome is that handsome does."