Before you contradict an old man, my fair friend, you should endeavour to understand him.

Many possessions, if they do not make a man better, are at least expected to make his children happier; and this pathetic hope is behind many exertions.

The tendency to gather and to breed philosophers in universities does not belong to ages of free and humane reflection: it is scholastic and proper to the Middle Ages and to Germany.

The earth has music for those who listen.

With an artist no sane man quarrels, any more than with the colour of a child's eyes.

We do right enough darling, if we go wrong together.

Skepticism is the chastity of the intellect, and it is shameful to surrender it too soon or to the first comer.