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.
– Horace Walpole
Every drop of ink in my pen ran cold.
– Horace Walpole
I avoid talking before the youth of the age as I would dancing before them: for if one's tongue don't move in the steps of the day, and thinks to please by its old graces, it is only an object of ridicule.
– Horace Walpole
I do not admire politicians; but when they are excellent in their way, one cannot help allowing them their due.
– Horace Walpole
It was said of old Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough, that she never puts dots over her I s, to save ink.
– Horace Walpole
Men are often capable of greater things than they perform - They are sent into the world with bills of credit, and seldom draw to their full extent.
– Horace Walpole
Nine-tenths of the people were created so you would want to be with the other tenth.
– Horace Walpole
Oh that I were seated as high as my ambition, I'd place my naked foot on the necks of monarchs.
– Horace Walpole
The wisest prophets make sure of the event first.
– Horace Walpole
Virtue knows to a farthing what it has lost by not having been vice.
– Horace Walpole
The world is a tragedy to those who feel, but a comedy to those who think.
– Horace Walpole
The whole secret of life is to be interested in one thing profoundly and in a thousand things well.
– Horace Walpole
Poetry is a beautiful way of spoiling prose, and the laborious art of exchanging plain sense for harmony.
– Horace Walpole
Plot, rules, nor even poetry, are not half so great beauties in tragedy or comedy as a just imitation of nature, of character, of the passions and their operations in diversified situations.
– Horace Walpole
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.
– Horace Walpole
Imagination was given to man to compensate him for what he isn't. A sense of humor was provided to console him for what he is.
– Horace Walpole
By deafness one gains in one respect more than one loses one misses more nonsense than sense.