It is well for us that we are born babies in intellect. Could we understand half what mothers say and do to their infants, we should be filled with a conceit of our own importance, which would render us insupportable through life.

What hypocrites we seem to be whenever we talk of ourselves! Our words sound so humble, while our hearts are so proud.

Better far off to leave half the ruins and nine-tenths of the churches unseen and to see well the rest; to see them not once, but again and often again; to watch them, to learn them, to live with them, to love them, till they have become a part of life and life's recollections.

The virtue of Paganism was strength: the virtue of Christianity is obedience.

The ancients dreaded death: the Christian can only fear dying.

The intellect of the wise is like glass; it admits the light of heaven and reflects it.

It is with flowers as with moral qualities; the bright are sometimes poisonous; but, I believe, never the sweet.