when driven to the necessity of explaining, I found that I did not myself understand what I meant.

We may make our future by the best use of the present. There is no moment like the present.

Books only spoil the originality of genius. Very well for those who can't think for themselves - But when one has made up one's opinions, there is no use in reading.

I've a great fancy to see my own funeral afore I die.

Those who are animated by hope can perform what would seem impossibilities to those who are under the depressing influence of fear.

Those who have lived in a house with spoiled children must have a lively recollection of the degree of torment they can inflict upon all who are within sight or hearing.

When the mind is full of any one subject, that subject seems to recur with extraordinary frequency - it appears to pursue or to meet us at every turn: in every conversation that we hear in every book we open, in every newspaper we take up, the reigning idea recurs; and then we are surprised, and exclaim at these wonderful coincidences.