Men have a singular desire to be good without being good for anything, because, perchance, they think vaguely that so it will be good for them in the end.

Ice is an interesting subject for contemplation. They told me that they had some in the ice-houses at Fresh Pond five years old which was as good as ever. Why is it that a bucket of water soon becomes putrid, but frozen remains sweet forever? It is commonly said that this is the difference between the affections and the intellect.

The opportunities of living are diminished in proportion as what are called the "means" are increased.

How many a man has dated a new era in his life from the reading of a book.

Impulse is, after all, the best linguist; its logic, if not conformable to Aristotle, cannot fail to be most convincing.

It is only necessary that man should start a fence that Nature should carry it on and complete it. The farmer cannot plow quite up to the rails or wall which he himself has placed, and hence it often becomes a hedgerow and sometimes a coppice.

It is never too late to give up our prejudices.