Enveloped in a common mist, we seem to walk in clearness ourselves, and behold only the mist that enshrouds others.

We all remember epochs in our experience when some dear expectation dies, or some new motive is born.

But if Maggie had been that young lady, you would probably have known nothing about her: her life would have had so few vicissitudes that it could hardly have been written; for the happiest women, like the happiest nations, have no history.

Can anything be more disgusting than to hear people called 'educated' making small jokes about eating ham, and showing themselves empty of any real knowledge as to the relation of their own social and religious life to the history of the people they think themselves witty in insulting? [...] The best thing that can be said of it is, that it is a sign of the intellectual narrowness—in plain English, the stupidity which is still the average mark of our culture.

We are not apt to fear for the fearless, when we are companions in their danger.

No man can be wise on an empty stomach.

One couldn't carry on life comfortably without a little blindness to the fact that everything has been said better than we can put it ourselves.