“He who would do good to another must do it in Minute Particulars; General Good is the plea of the scoundrel, hypocrite and flatterer: For Art and Science cannot exist but in minutely organized Particulars.”

“The following Discourse [on art, by Sir Joshua Reynolds] is particularly Interesting to Blockheads as it endeavours to prove that There is No such thing as Inspiration & that any Man of a plain Understanding may by Thieving from Others become a Mich Angelo.”

“When i tell the truth, it is not for the sake of convincing those who do not know it, but for the sake of defending those that do.”

“The emmet's inch and eagle's mileMake lame philosophy to smile.He who doubts from what he seesWill ne'er believe, do what you please.- "Auguries of Innocence”

“The difference between a good artist and a bad one is: the bad artist seems to copy a great deal, the good one really does.”

“If you have form'd a Circle to go into, / Go into it yourself & see how you would do.”

“I must create a system, or be enslaved by another man's. I will not reason and compare: my business is to create.”