Misfortune is never mournful to the soul that accepts it; for such do always see that every cloud is an angel's face.

I think every individual, and every society, is perfected just in proportion to the combination, and cooperation, of masculine and feminine elements of character. He is the most perfect man who is affectionate as well as intellectual; and she is the most perfect woman who is intellectual as well as affectionate. Every art and science becomes more interesting, viewed both from the masculine and feminine points of view.

Even if nothing worse than wasted mental effort could be laid to the charge of theology, that alone ought to be sufficient to banish it from the earth ... What a vast amount of labour and learning has been expended, as uselessly as emptying shallow puddles into sieves! How much intellect has been employed mousing after texts, to sustain preconceived doctrines!

a great mind can attend to little things, but a little mind cannot attend to great things.

I will work in my own way, according to the light that is in me.

Prejudices of all kinds have their strongest holds in the minds of the vulgar and the ignorant.

Happiness consists not in having much, but in wanting no more than you have.