The sons of Judah have to choose that God may again choose them. The divine principle of our race is action, choice, resolved memory.

Every year strips us of at least one vain expectation, and teaches us to reckon some solid good in its stead.

Among all forms of mistake, prophecy is the most gratuitous.

What destroys us most effectively is not a malign fate but our own capacity for self-deception and for degrading our own best self.

Falsehood is easy, truth so difficult.

As to memory, it is known that this frail faculty naturally lets drop the facts which are less flattering to our self-love - when it does not retain them carefully as subjects not to be approached, marshy spots with a warning flag over them.

People who can't be witty exert themselves to be devout and affectionate.