It were well if there were fewer heroes; for I scarcely ever heard of any, excepting Hercules, but did more mischief than good. These overgrown mortals commonly use their will with their right hand; and their reason with their left.

Knowledge is the consequence of time, and multitude of days are fittest to teach wisdom.

True courage is the result of reasoning. A brave mind is always impregnable.

There are few things reason can discover with so much certainty and ease as its own insufficiency.

Heroes are a mischievous race.

A man may as well expect to grow stronger by always eating as wiser by always reading.

Despair makes a despicable figure, and descends from a mean original. 'Tis the offspring of fear, of laziness and impatience; it argues a defect of spirit and resolution, and oftentimes of honesty, too. I would not despair unless I saw misfortune recorded in the book of fate, and signed and sealed by necessity.