Ladies are like creeds; if you cannot speak well of them, say nothing.

Any appellative at all savouring of arbitrary rank is unsuitable to a man of liberal and catholic mind.

In our own hearts, we mold the whole world's hereafters; and in our own hearts we fashion our own gods.

It is not the purpose of literature to purvey news. For news consult the Almanac de Gotha.

Consider the subtleness of the sea; how its most dreaded creatures glide under water, unapparent for the most part, and treacherously hidden beneath the loveliest tints of azure..... Consider all this; and then turn to this green, gentle , and most docile earth; consider them both, the sea and the land; and do you not find a strange analogy to something in yourself?

The easiest way of life is the best.

At my years, and with my disposition, or rather, constitution, one gets to care less and less for everything except downright goodfeeling. Life is so short, and so ridiculous and irrational (from a certain point of view) that one knows not what to make of it, unless--well, finish the sentence for yourself.