I would rather produce my passions than brood over them at my expense; they grow languid when they have vent and expression. It is better that their point should operate outwardly than be turned against us.

Not being able to govern events, I govern myself, and apply myself to them if they will not apply themselves to me.

One must be a little foolish if one does not want to be even more stupid.

Might I have had my own will, I would not have married Wisdom herself, if she would have had me.

There is a certain consideration, and a general duty of humanity, that binds us not only to the animals, which have life and feeling, but even to the trees and plants. We owe justice to people, and kindness and benevolence to all other creatures who may be susceptible of it. There is some intercourse between them and us, and some mutual obligation.

Intemperance is the plaque of sensuality, and temperance is not its bane but its seasoning.

In true education, anything that comes to our hand is as good as a book: the prank of a page- boy, the blunder of a servant, a bit of table talk - they are all part of the curriculum.