There is always a part of our being into which those who are dearer to us far than our own lives are yet unable to enter.

Morality, when vigorously alive, sees farther than intellect, and provides unconsciously for intellectual difficulties.

The practical effect of a belief is the real test of its soundness. Where we find a heroic life appearing as the uniform fruit of a particular mode of opinion, it is childish to argue in the face of fact that the result ought to have been different.

Where nature is sovereign, there is no need of austerity and self-denial.

Truth only smells sweet forever, and illusions, however innocent, are deadly as the canker worm.

Nature is not a partisan, but out of her ample treasue house she produces children in infinite variety, of which she is equally the mother, and disowns none of them.

Fear is the parent of cruelty.