The existence of any evil anywhere at any time absolutely ruins a total optimism.

Love is at once more animal than friendship and more divine.

In any close society it is more urgent to restrain others than to be free oneself. Hence the tendency for the central authority to absorb and supersede such as are local or delegated.

One's friends are that part of the human race with which one can be human.

All spiritual interests are supported by animal life.

I love moving water, I love ships, I love the sharp definition, the concentrated humanity, the sublime solitude of life at sea. The dangers of it only make present to us the peril inherent in all existence, which the stupid, ignorant, un-travelled land-worm never discovers; and the art of it, so mathematical, so exact, so rewarding to intelligence, appeals to courage and clears the mind of superstition, while filling it with humility and true religion.

It takes a wonderful brain and exquisite senses to produce a few stupid ideas.