Two men are equally free from the rage of ambition; are they therefore equal in merit? Perhaps not; one may be above ambition, the other below it.

If the human mind naturally produces noisome weeds, it also produces flowers and fruit; and ... the best method to mend the soil in general, is for each of us to cultivate his own particular spot.

Love will sacrifice more to others than friendship, but then it exacts more from them.

Might not most men be as well named boys grown old.

No man was ever so much deceived by another as by himself.

We are oftener deceived by being told some truth than no truth.

It has been said that the beauties of the mind are valuable because they are more lasting than those of the body; but I do not remember to have heard it said that the beauties of the mind are valuable because they make those of the body more lasting.