Man can acquire accomplishments or he can become an animal, whichever he wants. God makes the animals, man makes himself.

Just as the performance of the vilest and most wicked deeds requires spirit and talent, so even the greatest demand a certain insensitivity which under other circumstances we would call stupidity.

A man of spirit must not think of the word difficulty as so much as existing. Away with it!

Nothing can contribute more to peace of soul than the lack of any opinion whatever.

It is too bad if you have to do everything upon reflection and can't do anything from early habit.

If all else fails, the character of a man can be recognized by nothing so surely as by a jest which he takes badly.

It is hardly to be believed how spiritual reflections when mixed with a little physics can hold people's attention and give them a livelier idea of God than do the often ill-applied examples of his wrath.