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

Practical life teaches us that people may differ and that both may be wrong: it also teaches us that people may differ and both be right. Anchor yourself fast in the latter faith, or the former will sweep your heart away.

One saves oneself much pain, by taking pains; much trouble, by taking trouble.

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. Happy the boy whose mother is tired of talking nonsense to him before he is old enough to know the sense of it.

The cross was two pieces of dead wood; and a helpless, unresisting Man was nailed to it; yet it was mightier than the world, and triumphed, and will ever triumph over it.

The feeling is often the deeper truth, the opinion the more superficial one.

Philosophy cannot raise the commonalty up to her level: so, if she is to become popular, she must sink to theirs.