Materialism and spirituality are two pretty racquets with which charlatans in cap and gown make the same ball fly.

A man wastes his time going to hear some of our eloquent modern preachers; they may change his opinions, but never his conduct.

Envy is the most stupid of vices, for there is no single advantage to be gained from it.

But reason always cuts a poor figure beside sentiment; the one being essentially restricted, like everything that is positive, while the other is infinite.

It's catastrophies which turn wise and strong people into philosophers.

How sternly we reproach virtue for its failings, how indulgent we are to the better qualities of vice!

Temperament is the thermometer of character.