The more I see of Mankind, the more I prefer my dog.

The mind of the greatest man on earth is not so independent of circumstances as not to feel inconvenienced by the merest buzzing noise about him; it does not need the report of a cannon to disturb his thoughts. The creaking of a vane or a pully is quite enough. Do not wonder that he reasons ill just now; a fly is buzzing by his ear; it is quite enough to unfit him for giving good counsel.

The least movement is of importance to all nature. The entire ocean is affected by a pebble.

The best defense against logic is ignorance.

Words differently arranged have a different meaning, and meanings differently arranged have different effects.

Those honor nature well, who teach that she can speak on everything...

We are so presumptuous that we should like to be known all over the world, even by people who will only come when we are no more. Such is our vanity that the good opinion of half a dozen of the people around us gives us pleasure and satisfaction.