When I think of the gold-diggers and the Mormons, the slaves and the slave-holders and the flibustiers, I naturally dream of a glorious private life. No, I am not patriotic.

Must the citizen ever for a moment, or in the least degree, resigns his conscience to the legislator? Why has every man a conscience then? I think that we should be men first, and subjects afterward.

We perceive that the schemers return again and again to common sense and labor. Such is the evidence of history.

Why do you ever mend your clothes, unless that, wearing them, you may mend your ways. Let us sing.

Books that are books are all that you want, and there are but a half dozen in any thousand.

The philosopher's conception of things will, above all, be truer than other men's, and his philosophy will subordinate all the circumstances of life. To live like a philosopher is to live, not foolishly, like other men, but wisely and according to universal laws.

It is not worth the while to let our imperfections disturb us always.