There is scarcely any fault in another which offends us more than vanity, though perhaps there is none that really injures us so little.

we contrive to make revenge itself look like religion. We call down thunder on many a head under pretence, that those on whom we invoke it are God's enemies, when perhaps we invoke it because they are ours.

Sweet is the breath of praise when given by those whose own high merit claims the praise they give.

Where evil may be done, it is right to ponder; where only suffered, know the shortest pause is much too long.

Man can see his reflection in water only when he bends down close to it, and the heart of man, too, must lean down to the heart of his fellow; then it will see itself within his heart.

Commending a right thing is a cheap substitute for doing it, with which we are too apt to satisfy ourselves.

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.