Vanity calculates but poorly on the vanity of others; what a virtue we should distil from frailty, what a world of pain we should save our brethren, if we would suffer our own weakness to be the measure of theirs.

Art does not imitate nature, but founds itself on the study of nature, takes from nature the selections which best accord with its own intention, and then bestows on them that which nature does not possess, viz: The mind and soul of man.

Emotion, whether of ridicule, anger, or sorrow,--whether raised at a puppet show, a funeral, or a battle,--is your grandest of levellers. The man who would be always superior should be always apathetic.

A good cigar is as great a comfort to a man as a good cry to a woman.

The Italians have voices like peacocks - German gives me a cold in the head - and Russian is nothing but sneezing

There is no such thing as luck. It's a fancy name for being always at our duty, and so sure to be ready when good time comes.

What is past is past, there is a future left to all men, who have the virtue to repent and the energy to atone.