William Hazlitt (1778-1830)

William Hazlitt was an English essayist, drama and literary critic, painter, social commentator, and philosopher. He is now considered one of the greatest critics and essayists in the history of the English language, placed in the company of Samuel Johnson and George Orwell. He is also acknowledged as the finest art critic of his age. Despite his high standing among historians of literature and art, his work is currently little read and mostly out of print.

Quotes

The mind of man is like a clock that is always running down, and requires to be constantly wound up.
If mankind had wished for what is right, they might have had it long ago.
The most silent people are generally those who think most highly of themselves.
I like a friend better for having faults that one can talk about.
The surest hindrance of success is to have too high a standard of refinement in our own minds, or too high an opinion of the judgment of the public. He who is determined not to be satisfied with anything short of perfection will never do anything to please himself or others.
When a thing ceases to be a subject of controversy, it ceases to be a subject of interest.
Man is the only animal that laughs and weeps, for he is the only animal that is struck with the difference between what things are and what they ought to be.
Without the aid of prejudice and custom I should not be able to find my way across the room.

Prejudice
Men of genius do not excel in any profession because they labor in it, but they labor in it because they excel.

Genius