Our sense of duty must often wait for some work which shall take the place of dilettanteism [sic] and make us feel that the quality of our action is not a matter of indifference.

There is so much to read and the days are so short! I get more hungry for knowledge every day, and less able to satisfy my hunger.

The law and medicine should be very serious professions to undertake, should they not? People's lives and fortunes depend on them.

I'll tell you what's the greatest power under heaven, and that is public opinion-the ruling belief in society about what is right and what is wrong, what is honourable and what is shameful. That's the steam that is to work the engines.

All meanings, we know, depend on the key of interpretation.

I'm not denyin' the women are foolish. God Almighty made 'em to match the men.

Expenditure--like ugliness and errors--becomes a totally new thing when we attach our own personality to it, and measure it by that wide difference which is manifest (in our own sensations) between ourselves and others.