We must not inquire too curiously into motives. they are apt to become feeble in the utterance: the aroma is mixed with the grosser air. We must keep the germinating grain away from the light.

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

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

We hand folks over to God's mercy, and show none ourselves.

It is a common sentence that knowledge is power; but who hath duly considered or set forth the power of ignorance? Knowledge slowly builds up what ignorance in an hour pulls down.

There's times when the crockery seems alive, an' flies out o' your hand like a bird. It's like the glass, sometimes, 'ull crack as it stands. What is to be broke will be broke.

Where women love each other, men learn to smother their mutual dislike.