Galileo called doubt the father of invention; it is certainly the pioneer.

Earnestness is the devotion of all the faculties.

Judicious praise is to children what the sun is to flowers.

The passions are like fire, useful in a thousand ways and dangerous only in one, through their excess.

The best evidence of merit is a cordial recognition of it whenever and wherever it may be found.

Pleasure and pain spring not so much from the nature of things, as from our manner of considering them. Pleasure, especially, is never an invariable effect of particular circumstances.

Contentment is not happiness. An oyster may be contented. Happiness is compounded of richer elements.