Books professedly published for the advancement of knowledge, are very frequently to be reckoned, among its greatest impediments; for the interests of learning are no less injured by whimsical doctrines, than the rights of authorship by plagiarism.

Too many of our grammars, profitable only to their makers and venders, are like weights attached to the heels of Hermes.
It is discouraging to know the history of this science.

But the multiplicity of treatises already in use, is a reason, not for silence, but for offering more.

For, as Lord Bacon observes, the number of ill-written books is not to be diminished by ceasing to write, but by writing others which, like Aaron's serpent, shall swallow up the spurious.[5] 19.

I have said that some grammars have too much originality, and others too little.