In society every man is taken for what he gives himself out to be; but he must give himself out to be something. Better to be slightly disagreeable than altogether insignificant.

Three things are to be looked to in a building: that it stand on the right spot; that it is securely founded; that it be successfully executed.

Waste not a day in vain digression; with resolute, courageous trust seek every possible impression and make it firmly your posession you'll then work on because you must.

The older we get the more we must limit ourselves if we wish to be active.

A state of affairs which leads to daily vexation is not the right state.

All our knowledge is symbolic.

Misunderstandings and neglect create more confusion in this world than trickery and malice. At any rate, the last two are certainly much less frequent.