The dead of midnight is the noon of thought.

Children have almost an intuitive discernment between the maxims you bring forward for their use, and those by which you direct your own conduct.

Nobody ought to be too old to improve: I should be sorry if I was; and I flatter myself I have already improved considerably by my travels. First, I can swallow gruel soup, egg soup, and all manner of soups, without making faces much. Secondly, I can pretty well live without tea.

if an author would have us feel a strong degree of compassion, his characters must not be too perfect.

When one by one our ties are torn, and friend from friend is snatched forlorn; when man is left alone to mourn, oh! then how sweet it is to die!

It is to hope, though hope were lost.

many things I knew, I have forgotten; many things I thought I knew, I find I know nothing about; some things I know, I have found not worth knowing; and some things I would give - O what would one not give to know? are beyond the reach of human ken.