Life is rather a state of embryo, a preparation for life; a man is not completely born till he has passed through death.

Did not strong connections draw me elsewhere, I believe Scotland would be the country I would choose to end my days in.

He that would fish, must venture his bait.

When confronted with two courses of action I jot down on a piece of paper all the arguments in favor of each one, then on the opposite side I write the arguments against each one. Then by weighing the arguments pro and con and cancelling them out, one against the other, I take the course indicated by what remains.

A man in a passion, rides a mad horse.

Drive thy business or it will drive thee.

It is the man and woman united that makes the complete human being. Separate she lacks his force of body and strength of reason; he her softness, sensibility and acute discernment. Together they are most likely to succeed in the world.