The life without men praise and regard as successful is but one kind. Why should we exaggerate any one kind at the expense of the others?

The gifts of Heaven are never quite gratuitous.

A common and natural result of an undue respect for law is, that you may see a file of soldiers, colonel, captain, corporal, privates, powder-monkeys, and all, marching in admirable order over hill and dale to the wars, against their wills, ay, against their common sense and consciences, which makes it very steep marching indeed, and produces a palpitation of the heart.

The only people who ever get anyplace interesting are the people who get lost.

I wish to learn what life has to teach, and not, when I come to die, discover that I have not truly lived.

Your richest veins don't lie nearest the surface.

What recommends commerce to me is its enterprise and bravery. It does not clasp its hands and pray to Jupiter.