Horace Walpole
Horace Walpole
Horatio Walpole, 4th Earl of Orford— also known as Horace Walpole — was an English art historian, man of letters, antiquarian and Whig politician...
NationalityEnglish
ProfessionHistorian
Date of Birth24 September 1717
moving passion age
When Shakespeare copied chroniclers verbatim, it was because he knew they were good enough for his audiences. In a more polished age he who could so move our passions, could surely have performed the easier task of satisfying our taste.
age charming vogue
It is charming to totter into vogue.
age might taste
Shakespeare had no tutors but nature and genius. He caught his faults from the bad taste of his contemporaries. In an age still less civilized Shakespeare might have been wilder, but would not have been vulgar.
religion age mistress
René of Anjou [(1409-80)] painted a picture of his mistress's corpse as he found it eaten by worms on having it [her tomb] openedon his return from a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. This [is] another instance of the strange mixture of religion and gallantry in those ages.
age might purity
Shakespeare, with an improved education and in a more enlightened age, might easily have attained the purity and correction of Racine; but nothing leads one to suppose that Racine in a barbarous age would have attained the grandeur, force and nature of Shakespeare.
event prophets prove sure wisest
Prognostics do not always prove prophecies, - at least the wisest prophets make sure of the event first
beautiful summer winter
Our [British] summers are often, though beautiful for verdure, so cold, that they are rather cold winters.
comedy english-author life tragedy
Life is a tragedy for those who feel, but a comedy to those who think.
according act best bless common given goodness happiness philosophy submit wisdom
To act with common sense according to the moment, is the best wisdom I know; and the best philosophy is to do one's duties, take the world as it comes, submit respectfully to one's lot; bless the goodness that has given us so much happiness with it,
bills draw english-author full men seldom sent
Men are sent into the world with bills of credit, and seldom draw to their full extent.
compensate given humor humorous imagination man
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.
comedy tragedy
The world is a tragedy to those who feel, but a comedy to those who think.
comedy tragedy
The world is a comedy to those who think, a tragedy to those who feel.
comedy english-author tragedy
The world is a comedy to those that think, a tragedy to those who feel.