To take Macaulay out of literature and society and put him in the House of Commons, is like taking the chief physician out of London during a pestile… - Sydney Smith

Let every man be occupied, and occupied in the highest employment of which his nature is capable, and die with the consciousness that he has done his best.

The main question to a novel is — did it amuse? were you surprised at dinner coming so soon? did you mistake eleven for ten? were you too late to dress? and did you sit up beyond the usual hour? If a novel produces these effects, it is good; if it does not — story, language, love, scandal itself cannot save it. It is only meant to please; and it must do that or it does nothing.

As the French say, there are three sexes — men, women, and clergymen.