Many actions, like the Rhone, have two sources,--one pure, the other impure.

Some persons take reproof good-humoredly enough, unless you are so unlucky as to hit a sore place. Then they wince and writhe, and start up and knock you down for your impertinence, or wish you good morning.

Much of this world's wisdom is still acquired by necromancy,--by consulting the oracular dead.

Moral prejudices are the stopgaps of virtue; and, as is the case with other stopgaps, it is often more difficult to get either out or in through them than through any other part of the fence.

It is natural that affluence should be followed by influence.

There is a glare about worldly success which is very apt to dazzle men's eyes.

The thoughtful excitement of lonely rambles, of gardening, and of other like occupations, where the mind has leisure to must during the healthful activity of the body, with the fresh and wakeful breezes blowing round it.