Quotes from authors born in 1776
Dr. Johnson has said that the chief glory of a country arises from its authors. But then that is only as they are oracles of wisdom; unless they teach virtue, they are more worthy of a halter than of the laurel.
Jane Porter
I never yet heard man or woman much abused that I was not inclined to think the better of them, and to transfer the suspicion or dislike to the one who found pleasure in pointing out the defects of another.
Jane Porter
Happiness is a sunbeam which may pass through a thousand bosoms without losing a particle of its original ray; nay, when it strikes on a kindred heart, like the converged light on a mirror, it reflects itself with redoubled brightness. It is not perfected till it is shared.
Jane Porter
The mob is a sort of bear; while your ring is through its nose, it will even dance under your cudgel; but should the ring slip, and you lose your hold, the brute will turn and rend you.
Jane Porter
It is useless to contend with the irresistible power of Time, which goes on continually creating by a process of constant destruction.
E. T. A. Hoffmann
George Henry Lewes 
Fritz Kreisler 
Aleksandr Lebed 
Vittorio De Sica 
Peter Brook 
Iain Duncan Smith 
William H. Hunt 
Bill Wyman