“You raise your voice when you should reinforce your argument.”

“Sir, I did not count your glasses of wine, why should you number up my cups of tea?”

“Read over your compositions, and wherever you meet with a passage which you think is particularly fine, strike it out.”

“My dear friend, clear your mind of cant [excessive thought]. You may talk as other people do: you may say to a man, "Sir, I am your most humble servant." You are not his most humble servant. You may say, "These are bad times; it is a melancholy thing to be reserved to such times." You don't mind the times ... You may talk in this manner; it is a mode of talking in Society; but don't think foolishly.”

“My congratulations to you, sir. Your manuscript is both good and original; but the part that is good is not original, and the part that is original is not good. ”

“Prejudice, not being founded on reason, cannot be removed by argument.”

“If your determination is fixed, I do not counsel you to despair. Few things are impossible to diligence and skill. Great works are performed not by strength, but perseverance.”