The moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves, too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never have otherwise occurred...unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would have come his way.

What people call the spirit of the times is mostly their own spirit in which the times mirror themselves.

Where a man has a passion for meditating without the capacity of thinking, a particular idea fixes itself fast, and soon creates a mental disease.

If everyone sweeps before his own front door, then the street is clean.

Man's highest merit always is, as much as possible, to rule external circumstances and as little as possible to let himself be ruled by them.

Beware of wishing for anything in youth, because you will get it in middle age.

Thou must (in commanding and winning, or serving and losing, suffering or triumphing) be either anvil or hammer.