The common practice of keeping up appearances with society is a mere selfish struggle of the vain with the vain.

There is never vulgarity in a whole truth, however commonplace. It may be unimportant or painful. It cannot be vulgar. Vulgarity is only in concealment of truth, or in affectation.

It is a matter of the simplest demonstration, that no man can be really appreciated but by his equal or superior.

The only way to understand these difficult parts of the Bible, or even to approach them with safety, is first to read and obey the easy ones.

The essence of lying is in deception, not in words.

No divine terror will ever be found in the work of the man who wastes a colossal strength in elaborating toys; for the first lesson that terror is sent to teach us is, the value of the human soul, and the shortness of mortal time.

Death is not a journey into an unknown land; it is a voyage home. We are going, not to a strange country, but to our fathers house.