There is this trouble about special providences namely, there is so often a doubt as to which party was intended to be the beneficiary. In the case of the children, the bears, and the prophet, the bears got more real satisfaction out of the episode than the prophet did, because they got the children.

In religion and politics, people's belief's and convictions are in almost every case gotten at second hand, and without examination

The conviction of the rich that the poor are happier is no more foolish than the conviction of the poor that the rich are.

Supposing is good, but finding out is better.

The most outrageous lies that can be invented will find believers if a person only tells them with all his might.

Courage is not the absence of fear, but the mastery of it.

The church is always trying to get other people to reform, it might not be a bad idea to reform itself a little, by way of example