William Hazlitt

The way to get on in the world is to be neither more nor less wise, neither better nor worse than your neighbours.

The most learned are often the most narrow minded.

No young man ever thinks he shall die.

Life is the art of being well deceived; and in order that the deception may succeed it must be habitual and uninterrupted.

Our friends are generally ready to do everything for us, except the very thing we wish them to do.

No truly great person ever thought themselves so.

We must be doing something to be happy.

Though familiarity may not breed contempt, it takes off the edge of admiration.

Dandyism is a variety of genius.

It is hard for any one to be an honest politician who is not born and bred a Dissenter.

The art of pleasing consists in being pleased.

We can scarcely hate anyone that we know.

That which is not, shall never be; that which is, shall never cease to be. To the wise, these truths are self-evident.

The true barbarian is he who thinks everything barbarous but his own tastes and prejudices.

As is our confidence, so is our capacity.

To get others to come into our ways of thinking, we must go over to theirs; and it is necessary to follow, in order to lead.

The English (it must be owned) are rather a foul-mouthed nation.

Good temper is one of the greatest preservers of the features.

Genius, like humanity, rusts for want of use.

If the world were good for nothing else, it is a fine subject for speculation.