Death is the only physician, the shadow of his valley the only journeying that will cure us of age and the gathering fatigue of years.

There is a sort of human paste that when it comes near the fire of enthusiasm is only baked into harder shape.

Science is properly more scrupulous than dogma. Dogma gives a charter to mistake, but the very breath of science is a contest with mistake, and must keep the conscience alive.

A peasant can no more help believing in a traditional superstition than a horse can help trembling when be sees a camel.

... learning to love any one is like an increase of property, -- it increases care, and brings many new fears lest precious things should come to harm.

Education was almost entirely a matter of luck — usually of ill-luck — in those distant days.

One way of getting an idea of our fellow-countrymen's miseries is to go and look at their pleasures.