Art can never match the luxury and superfluity of Nature. In the former all is seen; it cannot afford concealed wealth, and is niggardly in comparison; but Nature, even when she is scant and thin outwardly, satisfies us still by the assurance of a certain generosity at the roots.

It is truly enough said that a corporation has no conscience, but a corporation of conscientious men is a corporation with a conscience.

Ninety-nine one-hundredths of our lives we are mere hedgers and ditchers, but from time to time we meet with reminders of our destiny.

Do not engage to find things as you think they are.

Books can only reveal us to ourselves, and as often as they do us this service we lay them aside.

Time is but the stream I go a-fishing in.

I did not know that mankind was suffering for want of gold.