A thought is a thing as real as a cannonball.

Young authors give their brains much exercise and little food.

I would fain coin wisdom,—mould it, I mean, into maxims, proverbs, sentences, that can easily be retained and transmitted. Would that I could denounce and banish from the language of men—as base money—the words by which they cheat and are cheated!

There is graciousness and a kind of urbanity in beginning with men by esteem and confidence. It proves, at least, that we have long lived in good company with others and with our selves.

To reason, to argue. It is to walk with crutches in search of the truth. We come to it with a leap.

Strength is not energy; some authors have more muscles than talent.

How many people make themselves abstract to appear profound. The most useful part of abstract terms are the shadows they create to hide a vacuum.