One has to spend so many years in learning how to be happy. I am just beginning to make some progress in the science, and I hope to disprove Young's theory that "as soon as we have found the key of life it opes the gates of death." Every year strips us of at least one vain expectation, and teaches us to reckon some solid good in its stead. I never will believe that our youngest days are our happiest. What a miserable augury for the progress of the race and the destination of the individual if the more matured and enlightened state is the less happy one!

Consequences are unpitying.

What a different result one gets by changing the metaphor!

One couldn't carry on life comfortably without a little blindness to the fact that everything has been said better than we can put it ourselves.

Great feelings will often take the aspect of error, and great faith the aspect of illusion.

Half the sorrows of women would be averted if they could repress the speech they know to be useless-nay, the speech they have resolved not to utter.

If the past is not to bind us, where can duty lie? We should have no law but the inclination of the moment.