“I e'en gave over in good time, before the coolness of fancy that attends advanced years, should make me risk the reputation I had acquired.”

On wisely ceasing to write poetry in later life to preserve one's fame · Letter to John Smibert, May 1736

• Age
• Poetry
• Reputation

“That I have expressed my Thought in my native Dialect, was not only my Inclination, but the Desire of my best and wisest Friends; and most reasonable, since good Imagery, just Similes, and all Manner of ingenious Thoughts, in a well laid Design, disposed into Numbers, is Poetry. Then good Poetry may be in any Language.”

Defending the use of Scots as fully capable of genuine poetry · Preface to Poems, 1721

• Language
• Poetry
• Scotland

“Tis none of the least of my Diversions to see one Part of the World laughing at the other, yet all seem fully satisfied with their own Opinions and Abilities; but I shall never quarrel with any Man whose Temper is the reverse of mine.”

On the folly of judging others for differing tastes and the value of tolerance · Preface to Poems, 1721

• Humour
• Opinion
• Tolerance