The duty of man is the same in respect to his own nature as in respect to the nature of all other things, namely not to follow it but to amend it.

Popular opinions, on subjects not palpable to sense, are often true, but seldom or never the whole truth.

Persons of genius are, ex vi termini, more individual than any other people - less capable, consequently, of fitting themselves, without hurtful compression, into any of the small number of moulds which society provides in order to save its members the trouble of forming their character.

In a world in which there is so much to interest, so much to enjoy, and so much also to correct and improve, everyone who has this moderate amount of moral and intellectual requisites is capable of an existence which may be called enviable; and unless such a person, through bad laws, or subjection to the will of others, is denied the liberty to use the sources of happiness within his reach, he will not fail to find the enviable existence

Eloquence is heard; poetry is overheard ... All poetry is of the nature of the soliloquy.

Of two pleasures, if there be one which all or almost all who have experience of both give a decided preference, irrespective of any feeling of moral obligation to prefer it, that is the more desirable pleasure.

Is there any moral enormity which might not be justified by imitation of such a Deity?