Where there are large powers with little ambition... nature may be said to have fallen short of her purposes.

Wisdom is corrupted by ambition, even when the quality of the ambition is intellectual. For ambition, even of this quality, is but a form of self-love.

Where there are large powers with little ambition... nature may be said to have fallen short of her purposes.

Of all the uses of adversity which are sweet, none are sweeter than those which grow out of disappointed love.

I have not skillFrom such a sharp and waspish word as "No"To pluck the sting.

The philosophy which affects to teach us a contempt of money does not run very deep; for, indeed, it ought to be still more clear to the philosopher than it is to ordinary men, that there are few things in the world of greater importance.

When you give, therefore, take to yourself no credit for generosity, unless you deny yourself something in order that you may give.