I sit with my toes in a brook, And if any one axes forwhy? I hits them a rap with my crook, For 'tis sentiment does it, says I..

The next Augustan age will dawn on the other side of the Atlantic. There will, perhaps, be a Thucydides at Boston, a Xenophon at New York, and, in ti….

If a passion for freedom is not in vogue, patriots may sound the alarm till they are weary. The Act of Habeas Corpus, by which prisoners may insist o….

[King René of Anjou (1409-80)] would not listen to the news of his son having lost the Kingdom of Naples, because he would not bedisturbed when paint….

To act with common sense according to the moment, is the best wisdom I know..

One of the greatest geniuses that ever existed, Shakespeare, undoubtedly wanted taste..

Our bells are worn threadbare with ringing for victories.

How much on outward show does all depend, If virtues from within no lustre lend! Strip off th'externals M and Y, the rest Proves Majesty itself is bu….

Oh that I were seated as high as my ambition, I'd place my naked foot on the necks of monarchs..

Fashion is always silly, for, before it can spread far, it must be calculated for silly people; as examples of sense, wit, or ingenuity could be imit….

We are largely the playthings of our fears. To one, fear of the dark; to another, of physical pain; to a third, of public ridicule; to a fourth, of p….

How posterity will laugh at us, one way or other! If half a dozen break their necks, and balloonism is exploded, we shall be called fools for having ….

[Corneille] was inspired by Roman authors and Roman spirit, Racine with delicacy by the polished court of Louis XIV..

The whole [Scotch] nation hitherto has been void of wit and humour, and even incapable of relishing it..

When people will not weed their own minds, they are apt to be overrun by nettles..

Virtue knows to a farthing what it has lost by not having been vice..

Justice is rather the activity of truth, than a virtue in itself. Truth tells us what is due to others, and justice renders that due. Injustice is ac….

I have known several persons of great fame for wisdom in public affairs and councils governed by foolish servants. I have known great ministers, dist….

I shun authors, and would never have been one myself, if it obliged me to keep such bad company..

René of Anjou [(1409-80)] painted a picture of his mistress's corpse as he found it eaten by worms on having it [her tomb] openedon his return from a….

Ponder, your comedies are woeful chaff: Write tragedies, when you would make us laugh..