Does any one suppose that private prayer is necessarily candid--necessarily goes to the roots of action! Private prayer is inaudible speech, and speech is representative: who can represent himself just as he is, even in his own reflections?

But with regard to critical occasions, it often happens that all moments seem comfortably remote until the last.

Nothing is so good as it seems beforehand.

The memory has as many moods as the temper, and shifts its scenery like a diorama.

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

... indefinite visions of ambition are weak against the ease of doing what is habitual or beguilingly agreeable.

Eros has degenerated; he began by introducing order and harmony, and now he brings back chaos.