It is characteristic of genius to be hopeful and aspiring.

All people interested in their work are liable to overrate their vocation. There may be makers of dolls' eyes who wonder how society would go on without them.

Laws and customs may be creative of vice; and should be therefore perpetually under process of observation and correction: but laws and customs cannot be creative of virtue: they may encourage and help to preserve it; but they cannot originate it.

My own feeling of concern arises from seeing how much moral injury and suffering is created by the superstitions of the Christian mythology.

[On being deaf:] We must struggle for whatever may be had, without encroaching on the comfort of others.

A soul occupied with great ideas performs small duties.

Who is apt, on occasion, to assign a multitude of reasons when one will do? This is a sure sign of weakness in argument.