And the choice goes by forever 'twixt that darkness and that light.

A wise skepticism is the first attribute of a good critic.

My soul is not a palace of the past.

There is nothing so desperately monotonous as the sea, and I no longer wonder at the cruelty of pirates.

All free governments, whatever their name, are in reality governments by public opinion ; and it is on the quality of this public opinion that their prosperity depends. It is, therefore, their first duty to purify the element from which they draw the breath of life.

Toward no crimes have men shown themselves so cold- bloodedly cruel as in punishing differences of belief.

To put more faith in lies and hate than truth and love, is the true atheism.