I was born in the country of Hogg and Scott between the Yarrow and the Tweed, in the year 1864.

The Bible tells us to forgive our enemies, not our friends

There is nothing more perplexing in life than to know at what point you should surrender your intellect to your faith.

The power to love what is purely abstract is given to few.

What a pity, when Christopher Colombus discovered America, that he ever mentioned it.

I have always wanted to be a man, if only for the reason that I would like to have gauged the value of my intellect.

Haunted from my early youth by the transitoriness and pathos of life, I was aware that it is not enough to say "I am doing no harm," I ought to be testing myself daily, and asking myself what I am really achieving.