Idleness among children, as among men, is the root of all evil, and leads to no other evil more certain than ill temper.

Indeed, I have, alas! outlived almost every one of my contemporaries. One pays dear for living long.

it may be in morals as it is in optics, the eye and the object may come too close to each other, to answer the end of vision. There are certain faults which press too near our self-love to be even perceptible to us.

One kernel is felt in a hogshead; one drop of water helps to swell the ocean; a spark of fire helps to give light to the world. None are too small, too feeble, too poor to be of service. Think of this and act.

It is not so important to know everything as to know the exact value of everything, to appreciate what we learn and to arrange what we know.

Expectation ... quickens desire, while possession deadens it.

Pride never sleeps. The principle at least is always awake. An intemperate man is sometimes sober, but a proud man is never humble.