The faults of a brilliant writer are never dangerous on the long run; a thousand people read his work who would read no other; inquiry is directed to each of his doctrines; it is soon discovered what is sound and what is false; the sound become maxims, and the false beacons.

A gentleman's taste in dress is upon principle, the avoidance of all things extravagant. It consists in the quiet simplicity of exquisite neatness; but, as the neatness must be a neatness in fashion, employ the best tailor; pay him ready money, and, on the whole, you wi11 find him the cheapest.

Why should the soul ever repose? God, its Principle, reposes never.

The object of ambition, unlike that of love, never being wholly possessed, ambition is the more durable passion of the two.

A man's own conscience is his sole tribunal, and he should care no more for that phantom "opinion" than he should fear meeting a ghost if he crossed the churchyard at dark.

The cleverness of avarice is but the cunning of imbecility.

What men want is not talent, it is purpose; in other words, not the power to achieve, but the will to labor.