The most mighty of nature's laws is this, that out of Death she brings Life.

Our souls are like those orphans whose unwedded mothers die in bearing them: the secret of our paternity lies in their grave, and we must there to learn it.

Let faith oust fact; let fancy oust memory; I look deep down and do believe.

No philosophers so thoroughly comprehend us as dogs and horses.

The result of civilization, at the Sandwich Islands and elsewhere, is found productive to the civilizers, destructive to the civilizees. It is said to be compensation--a very philosophical word; but it appears to be very much on the principle of the old game, "You lose, I win": good philosophy for the winner.

It is not for man to follow the trail of truth too far, since by so doing he entirely loses the directing compass of his mind.

Where lies the final harbor, whence we unmoor no more? In what rapt ether sails the world, of which the weariest will never weary? Where is the foundling’s father hidden? Our souls are like those orphans whose unwedded mothers die in bearing them: the secret of our paternity lies in their grave, and we must there to learn it.