Religion has treated knowledge sometimes as an enemy, sometimes as a hostage; often as a captive and more often as a child; but knowledge has become of age, and religion must either renounce her acquaintance, or introduce her as a companion and respect her as a friend.

The interests of society often render it expedient not to utter the whole truth, the interests of science never: for in this field we have much more to fear from the deficiency of truth than from its abundance.

Marriage is a feast where the grace is sometimes better than the dinner.

There are two way of establishing a reputation, one to be praised by honest people and the other to be accused by rogues. It is best, however, to secure the first one, because it will always be accompanied by the latter.

The man of pleasure, by a vain attempt to be more happy than any man can be, is often more miserable than most men are.

In order to try whether a vessel be leaky, we first prove it with water before we trust it with wine.

A beautiful woman, if poor, should use double circumspection; for her beauty will tempt others, her poverty herself.