Horace Walpole

“Pictures may serve as helps to religion but are only an appendix to idolatry, for the people must be taught to believe in false gods and in the power of saints before they will learn to worship their images.”

“Poetry is a beautiful way of spoiling prose, and the laborious art of exchanging plain sense for harmony.”

“Nine-tenths of the people were created so you would want to be with the other tenth.”

“It was said of old Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough, that she never puts dots over her I s, to save ink.”

“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 acting a lie.”

“In all science, error precedes the truth, and it is better it should go first than last.”

“Alexander at the head of the world never tasted the true pleasure that boys of his own age have enjoyed at the head of a school.”

“He would be a very absurd legislator who should pretend to set bounds to his country's welfare, lest it should perish by knowing no bounds.”

“The world is a tragedy to those who feel, but a comedy to those who think.”

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

“I do not admire politicians; but when they are excellent in their way, one cannot help allowing them their due.”

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

“I never found even in my juvenile hours that it was necessary to go a thousand miles in search of themes for moralizing.”

“Heaven mocks the short-sighted views of man.”

“It was easier to conquer it than to know what to do with it.”

“Men are sent into the world with bills of credit, and seldom draw to their full extent.”

“The establishment of a society for the encouragement of arts will produce great benefits before they are perverted to mischiefs.”

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

“How well Shakespeare knew how to improve and exalt little circumstances, when he borrowed them from circumstantial or vulgar historians.”

“The wisest prophets make sure of the event first.”