It has been said that men carry on a kind of coasting trade with religion. In the voyage of life, they profess to be in search of heaven, but take care not to venture so far in their approximations to it, as entirely to lose sight of the earth; and should their frail vessel be in danger of shipwreck, they will gladly throw their darling vices overboard, as other mariners their treasures, only to fish them up again when the storm is over.

Courage is like the diamond,--very brilliant; not changed by fire, capable of high polish, but except for the purpose of cutting hard bodies useless.

It is not until we have passed through the furnace that we are made to know how much dross there is in our composition.

Style is indeed the valet of genius, and an able one too; but as the true gentleman will appear, even in rags, so true genius will shine, even through the coarsest style.

That profound firmness which enabler a man to regard difficulties but as evils to be surmounted, no matter what shape they may assume.

The press is the foe of rhetoric, but the friend of reason.

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