The most zealous converters are always the most rancorous when they fail of producing conversion.

Men spend their lives in anticipations,—in determining to be vastly happy at some period when they have time. But the present time has one advantage over every other—it is our own. Past opportunities are gone, future have not come. We may lay in a stock of pleasures, as we would lay in a stock of wine; but if we defer the tasting of them too long, we shall find that both are soured by age.

Moderation is the inseparable companion of wisdom, but with it genius has not even a nodding acquaintance.

Shrewd and crafty politicians, when they wish to bring about an unpopular measure, must not go straight forward to work, if they do they will certainly fail; and failures to men in power, are like defeats to a general, they shake their popularity. Therefore, since they cannot sail in the teeth of the wind, they must tack, and ultimately gain their object, by appearing at times to be departing from it.

For one man who sincerely pities our misfortunes, there are a thousand who sincerely hate our success.

We own almost all our knowledge not to those who have agreed but to those who have differed.

Happiness ... leads none of us by the same route.