Sceptics are yet the most credulous.

Napoleon for the sake of a good name broke in pieces half the world.

In politics as on a sickbed men toss from side to side in hope of lying more comfortably.

Truth is a torch, but a terrific one; therefore we all try to reach it with closed eyes, lest we should be scorched.

The soul that sees beauty may sometimes walk alone.

To know of someone here and there whom we accord with, who is living on with us, even in silence - - this makes our earthly ball a peopled garden.

In all our academies we attempt far too much. ... In earlier times lectures were delivered upon chemistry and botany as branches of medicine, and the medical student learned enough of them. Now, however, chemistry and botany are become sciences of themselves, incapable of comprehension by a hasty survey, and each demanding the study of a whole life, yet we expect the medical student to understand them. He who is prudent, accordingly declines all distracting claims upon his time, and limits himself to a single branch and becomes expert in one thing.