Charles Caleb Colton

"If you cannot inspire a woman with love of you, fill her above the brim with love of herself ~ all that runs over will be yours."

"Many a man may thank his talent for his rank, but no man has ever been able to return the compliment by thanking his rank for his talent."

"Pedantry prides herself on being wrong by rules; while common sense is contented to be right, without them."

"Examinations are formidable even to the best prepared, for the greatest fool may ask more than the wisest man can answer."

"With books, as with companions, it is of more consequence to know which to avoid, than which to choose; for good books are as scarce as good companions."

"Pedantry crams our heads with learned lumber, and takes out our brains to make room for it."

"To know the pains of power, we must go to those who have it; to know its pleasures, we must go to those who are seeking it; the pains of power are real, its pleasures imaginary."

"With the offspring of genius, the law of parturition is reversed; the throes are in the conception, the pleasure in the birth."