The nearest approximation to an understanding of life is to feel it--to realize it to the full--to be a profound and inscrutable mystery.

It is some compensation for great evils, that they enforce great lessons.

The cheerful live longest in years, and afterwards in our regards. Cheerfulness is the off-shoot of goodness.

Youth is too tumultuous for felicity; old age too insecure for happiness. The period most favorable to enjoyment, in a vigorous, fortunate, and generous life, is that between forty and sixty.

Bad taste is a species of bad morals.

Living with a saint is more grueling than being one.

All good writing leaves something unexpressed.