A man must become wise at his own expense.

We are neither obstinately nor wilfully to oppose evils, nor truckle under them for want of courage, but that we are naturally to give way to them, according to their condition and our own, we ought to grant free passage to diseases; and I find they stay less with me who let them alone. And I have lost those which are reputed the most tenacious and obstinate of their own defervescence, without any help or art, and contrary to their rules. Let us a little permit nature to take her own way; she better understands her own affairs than we.

The world is but a school of inquisition; it is not who shall enter the ring, but who shall run the best courses.

A man is not hurt so much by what happens, as by his opinion of what happens.

I have a vocabulary all my own. I "pass the time" when it is wet and disagreeable. When it is fine I do not wish to pass it; I ruminate it and hold on to it. We should hasten over the bad, and settle upon the good.

We are never present with, but always beyond ourselves; fear, desire, hope, still push us on toward the future.

Every one's true worship was that which he found in use in the place where he chanced to be.