We can know nothing of humankind without knowing something of ourselves. Self-knowledge is the property of those people whose passions have their full play, but who ponder over their results.

We make our own fortune and call it destiny.

Scientific, like spiritual truth, has ever from the beginning been descending from heaven to man.

Governments do not govern, but merely control the machinery of government, being themselves controlled by the hidden hand.

Change is as inexorable as time, yet nothing meets with more resistance.

It is a great mistake to suppose that bribery and corruption, although they may be very convenient for gratifying the ambition or the vanity of individuals, have any great effect upon the fortunes or the power of parties. And it is a great mistake to suppose that bribery and corruption are means by which power can either be ob-tained or retained.

War is never a solution; it is an aggravation.