A man has no business to be depressed by a disappointment, anyway; he ought to make up his mind to get even.

The man who is a pessimist before 48 knows too much; if he is an optimist after it, he knows too little.

Well enough for old folks to rise early, because they have done so many mean things all their lives they can't sleep anyhow.

Our heroes are men who do things which we recognize, with regret, and sometimes with a secret shame, that we cannot do.

I am quite sure now that often, very often, in matters concerning religion and politics a man's reasoning powers are not above the monkey's.

I haven't a particle of confidence in a man who has no redeeming petty vices whatsoever.

To be human is to have one's little modicum of romance secreted away in one's composition. One never ceases to make a hero of one's self, (in private,) during life, but only alters the style of heroism from time to time as the drifting years belittle certain gods of his admiration and raise up others in their stead.