Astronomy is perhaps the science whose discoveries owe least to chance, in which human understanding appears in its whole magnitude, and through which man can best learn how small he is.

We say that someone occupies an official position, whereas it is the official position that occupies him.

A book is a mirror: if an ape looks into it an apostle is hardly likely to look out.

Nothing reveals a man's character better than the kind of joke at which he takes offense.

People who never have any time on their hands are those who do the least.

Erudition can produce foliage without bearing fruit.

To make astute people believe one is what one is not is, in most cases, harder than actually to become what one wishes to appear.