Men are so inclined to content themselves with what is commonest; the spirit and the senses so easily grow dead to the impressions of the beautiful and perfect, that every one should study, by all methods, to nourish in his mind the faculty of feeling these things. ...For this reason, one ought every day at least, to hear a little song, read a good poem, see a fine picture, and, if it were possible, to speak a few reasonable words.

Divide and rule, the politician cries; unite and lead, is watchword of the wise.

Come my little one, and give me your hand.

What a torment it is to see so much loveliness passing and repassing before us, and yet not dare to lay hold of it!

Mathematics can remove no prejudices and soften no obduracy. It has no influence in sweetening the bitter strife of parties, and in the moral world generally its action is perfectly null.

We rather confess our moral errors, faults, and crimes than our ignorance.

How many years must a man do nothing, before he can at all know what is to be done and how to do it!