No human being, however great, or powerful, was ever so free as a fish.

Geology does better in reclothing dry bones and revealing lost creations, than in tracing veins of lead and beds of iron; astronomy better in opening to us the houses of heaven than in teaching navigation; surgery better in investigating organiation than in setting limbs; only it is ordained that, for our encouragement, every step we make in science adds something to its practical applicabilities.

It is better to be nobly remembered than nobly born.

The truth of Nature is a part of the truth of God; to him who does not search it out, darkness; to him who does, infinity.

Depend upon it, the first universal characteristic of all great art is Tenderness, as the second is Truth.

Nearly all the evils in the Church have arisen from bishops desiring power more than light. They want authority, not outlook.

All the best things and treasures of this world are not to be produced by each generation for itself; but we are all intended, not to carve our work in snow that will melt, but each and all of us to be continually rolling a great white gathering snow-ball, higher and higher, larger and larger, along the Alps of human power.