The cat is nature's masterpiece.

Any color is more distinctly seen when opposed to its contrary: thus, black on white, blear near yellow, green near red, and so on.

A luminous body will appear more brilliant in proportion as it is surrounded by deeper shadow.

Oysters open completely when the moon is full; and when the crab sees one it throws a piece of stone or seaweed into it and the oyster cannot close again so that it serves the crab for meat. Such is the fate of him who opens his mouth too much and thereby puts himself at the mercy of the listener.

Good culture is born of a good disposition; and since the cause is more to be praised than the effect, I will rather praise a good disposition without culture, than good culture without the disposition.

Experience is a truer guide than the words of others.

Mechanics is the paradise of the mathematical sciences because by means of it one comes to the fruits of mathematics.