Knavery is supple, and can bend, but honesty is firm and upright and yields not.

It is almost as difficult to make a man unlearn his errors as his knowledge.

By paying our other debts, we are equal with all mankind; but in refusing to pay a debt of revenge, we are superior.

Time is the most subtle yet the most insatiable of depredators, and by appearing to take nothing is permitted to take all; nor can it be satisfied until it has stolen the world from us, and us from the world. It constantly flies, yet overcomes all things by flight; and although it is the present ally, it will be the future conqueror of death.

There are many that despise half the world; but if there be any that despise the whole of it, it is because the other half despises them.

It is better to meet danger than to wait for it. He that is on a lee shore, and foresees a hurricane, stands out to sea and encounters a storm to avoid a shipwreck.

Our admiration of fine writing will always be in proportion to its real difficulty and its apparent ease.