William Hazlitt

People of genius do not excel in any profession because they work in it, they work in it because they excel.

To think ill of mankind and not wish ill to them, is perhaps the highest wisdom and virtue.

An honest man speaks the truth, though it may give offence a vain man, in order that it may.

There are few things in which we deceive ourselves more than in the esteem we profess to entertain for our firends. It is little better than a piece of quackery. The truth is, we think of them as we please, that is, as they please or displease us.

You know more of a road by having traveled it than by all the conjectures and descriptions in the world.

A wise traveler never despises his own country.

It is not fit that every man should travel it makes a wise man better, and a fool worse.

Prosperity is a great teacher adversity a greater.

The world judge of men by their ability in their profession, and we judge of ourselves by the same test: for it is on that on which our success in life depends.

A gentle word, a kind look, a good-natured smile can work wonders and accomplish miracles.

There is a secret pride in every human heart that revolts at tyranny. You may order and drive an individual, but you cannot make him respect you.

A hypocrite despises those whom he deceives, but has no respect for himself. He would make a dupe of himself too, if he could.

There is a heroism in crime as well as in virtue. Vice and infamy have their altars and their religion.

The incentive to ambition is the love of power.

The love of liberty is the love of others the love of power is the love of ourselves.

Poetry is all that is worth remembering in life.

Those who are at war with others are not at peace with themselves.

Poetry is the universal language which the heart holds with nature and itself. He who has a contempt for poetry, cannot have much respect for himself, or for anything else.

The perfect joys of heaven do not satisfy the cravings of nature.

We do not see nature with our eyes, but with our understandings and our hearts.