Everything that happens, happens of necessity.

Necessity is the constant scourge of the lower classes, ennui of the higher ones.

The first forty years of our life give the text, the next thirty furnish the commentary upon it, which enables us rightly to understand the true meaning and connection of the text with its moral and its beauties.

If a man wants to read good books, he must make a point of avoiding bad ones; for life is short, and time and energy limited.

There is not much to be got anywhere in the world. It is filled with misery and pain; if a man escapes these, boredeom lies in wait for him at every corner. Nay more; it is evil which generally has the upper hand, and folly that makes the most noise. Fate is cruel and mankind pitiable.

Physics is unable to stand on its own feet, but needs a metaphysics on which to support itself, whatever fine airs it may assume towards the latter.

In action a great heart is the chief qualification. In work, a great head.