Common sense is only a modification of talent. Genius is an exaltation of it. The difference is, therefore, in degree, not nature.

What a mistake to suppose that the passions are strongest in youth! The passions are not stronger, but the control over them is weaker! They are more easily excited, they are more violent and apparent; but they have less energy, less durability, less intense and concentrated power than in maturer life.

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.

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

The food of hope is meditative action.

The great secrets of being courted are, to shun others, and seem delighted with yourself.

Our ideas, like orange-plants, spread out in proportion to the size of the box which imprisons the roots.