Imagination is strong in a man when that particular function of the brain which enables him to observe is roused to activity without any necessary excitement of the sense. Accordingly, we find that imagination is active just in proportion as our sense are not excited by external objects. A long period of solitude, whether in prison or in a sick room; quiet, twilight, darkness-these are the things that promote its activity; and under their influence it comes into play of itself.

This is the case with many learned persons; they have read themselves stupid.

Marrying means, to grasp blindfolded into a sack hoping to find out an eel out of an assembly of snakes.

Boredom is just the reverse side of fascination: both depend on being outside rather than inside a situation, and one leads to the other.

Scoundrels are always sociable.

How is it possible that suffering that is neither my own nor of my concern should immediately affect me as though it were my own, and with such force that is moves me to action?

A man's face as a rule says more, and more interesting things, than his mouth, for it is a compendium of everything his mouth will ever say, in that it is the monogram of all this man's thoughts and aspirations.