The conduct of men depends upon their temperament, not upon a bunch of musty maxims.

Nine-tenths of existing books are nonsense, and the clever books are the refutation of that nonsense.

Despair is the conclusion of fools.

The Egremonts had never said anything that was remembered, or done anything that could be recalled.

Destiny is our will, and our will is nature.

You asked me where I generally lived. In my workshop [i.e. in his study] in the mornings and always in the library in the evening. Books are companions even if you don’t open them.

Duty cannot exist without faith