If we wish to know the force of human genius we should read Shakespeare. If we wish to see the insignificance of human learning we may only study his commentators. ["On the Ignorance of the Learned"]

— William Hazlitt

If we wish to know the force of human genius we should read Shakespeare. If we wish to see the insignificance of human learning we may study his commentators.

— William Hazlitt

If you give an audience a chance they will do half your acting for you.

— William Hazlitt

Indolence is a delightful but distressing state. We must be doing something to be happy.

— William Hazlitt

In some situations, if you say nothing, you are called dull; if you talk, you are thought impertinent and arrogant. It is hard to know what to do in this case. The question seems to be, whether your vanity or your prudence predominates.

— William Hazlitt

It is essential to the triumph of reform that it shall never succeed.

— William Hazlitt

It is not fit that every man should travel; it makes a wise man better, and a fool worse.

— William Hazlitt

It is well there is no one without fault for he would not have a friend in the world. He would seem to belong to a different species.

— William Hazlitt

Landscape painting is the obvious resource of misanthropy.

— William Hazlitt

Learning is its own exceeding great reward.

— William Hazlitt