“Words are obviously voluntary signs:  and they are also arbitrary; excepting a few simple sounds expressive of certain internal emotions, which sounds being the same in all languages, must be the work of nature:  thus the unpremeditated tones of admiration are the same in all men.”—­Kames, Elements of Crit., i, 347.

“A stately and majestic air requires sumptuous apparel, which ought not to be gaudy, nor crowded with little ornaments.  A woman of consummate beauty can bear to be highly adorned, and yet shows best in a plain dress.”—­Ib., p. 279.  “Of all external objects a graceful person is the most agreeable.  But in vain will a person attempt to be graceful, who is deficient in amiable qualities.”—­Ib., p. 299.

“The faults of a writer of acknowledged excellence are more dangerous, because the influence of his example is more extensive; and the interest of learning requires that they should be discovered and stigmatized, before they have the sanction of antiquity bestowed upon them, and become precedents of indisputable authority.”—­Dr. Johnson, Rambler, Vol. ii, No. 93.

“Judges ought to be more learned than witty, more reverend than plausible, and more advised than confident; above all things, integrity is their portion and proper virtue.”—­Bacon’s Essays, p. 145.

“The wisest nations, having the most and best ideas, will consequently have the best and most copious languages.”—­Harris’s Hermes, p. 408.

“Here we trace the operation of powerful causes, while we remain ignorant of their nature; but everything goes on with such regularity and harmony, as to give a striking and convincing proof of a combining directing intelligence.”—­Life of W. Allen, Vol. i, p. 170.

   “The wisest, unexperienced, will be ever
    Timorous and loth, with novice modesty,
    Irresolute, unhardy, unadventurous.”—­Milton.

IMPROPRIETIES FOR CORRECTION.

ERRORS OF ADJECTIVES.

LESSON I.—­DEGREES.

“I have the real excuse of the honestest sort of bankrupts.”—­Cowley’s Preface, p. viii.

[FORMULE.—­Not proper, because the adjective honestest is harshly compared by est.  But, according to a principle stated on page 283d concerning the regular degrees, “This method of comparison is to be applied only to monosyllables, and to dissyllables of a smooth termination, or such as receive it and still have but one syllable after the accent.”  Therefore, honestest should be most honest; thus, “I have real excuse of the most honest sort of bankrupts.”]