The worst service, I fancy, that anyone can do for truth, is to set silly people writing on its behalf.

I take a dose of mathematics every day to prevent my brain from becoming quite soft.

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

And certainly, the mistakes that we male and female mortals make when we have our own way might fairly raise some wonder that we are so fond of it.

All writing seems to me worse in the state of proof than in any other form. In manuscript one's own wisdom is rather remarkable to one, but in proof it has the effect of one's private furniture repeated in the shop windows. And then there is the sense that the worst errors will go to press unnoticed!

I would rather not be engaged. When people are engaged, they begin to think of being married soon, and I should like everything to go on for a long while just as it is.

You know I have duties──we both have duties──before which feeling must be sacrificed.