Persons not habituated to reason often argue absurdly, because, from particular instances, they deduce general conclusions, and extend the result of their limited experience of individuals indiscriminately to whole classes.

The everlasting quotation-lover dotes on the husks of learning.

how impossible it is not to laugh in some company, or to laugh in others.

a straight line is the shortest possible line between any two points - an axiom equally true in morals as in mathematics.

Habit is, to weak minds, a species of moral predestination, from which they have no power to escape.

There is no moment like the present. The man who will not execute his resolutions when they are fresh upon him can have no hope from them afterwards: they will be dissipated, lost, and perish in the hurry and scurry of the world, or sunk in the slough of indolence.

Promises are dangerous things to ask or to give.