Horace Walpole

It is the story of a mountebank and his zany.

Prognostics do not always prove prophecies, — at least the wisest prophets make sure of the event first.

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

To act with common sense, according to the moment, is the best wisdom I know; and the best philosophy, to do one's duties, take the world as it comes, submit respectfully to one's lot, bless the goodness that has given us so much happiness …

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 time, a Virgil at Mexico, and a Newton at Peru. At last, some curious traveller from Lima …

The way to ensure summer in England is to have it framed and glazed in a comfortable room.

A careless song, with a little nonsense in it now and then, does not misbecome a monarch.

It was easier to conquer it [the East] than to know what to do with it.

The world is a comedy to those that think; a tragedy to those that feel– a solution of why Democritus laughed and Heraclitus wept.

A tragedy can never suffer by delay: a comedy may, because the allusions or the manners represented in it maybe temporary.

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 on being brought to trial within a limited time, is the corner-stone of our liberty.

My aversion to them...springs from the perniciousness of that sect to society—I hate Papists, as a man, not as a Protestant. If Papists were only enemies to the religion of other men, I should overlook their errors. As they are foes to …

Our supreme governors, the mob.

Why, I'll swear I see no difference between a country gentleman and a sirloin; whenever the first laughs, or the latter is cut, there run out just the same streams of gravy! ... Oh! my dear Sir, don't you find that nine parts in ten of the …

Harry Vane, Pulteney's toad-eater.

When I first came abroad, every thing struck me