All permanent decisions are made in a temporary state of mind.

Those who give the first shock to a state are the first overwhelmed in its ruin; the fruits of public commotion are seldom enjoyed by him who was the first mover; he only beats the water for another's net.

Man is quite insane. He wouldn?t know how to create a maggot, and he creates Gods by the dozen.

Only the fools are certain and assured.

When I dance, I dance; when I sleep, I sleep; yes, and when I walk alone in a beautiful orchard, if my thoughts drift to far-off matters for some part of the time for some other part I lead them back again to the walk, the orchard, to the sweetness of this solitude, to myself.

He who does not live in some degree for others, hardly lives for himself.

Men of simple understanding, little inquisitive and little instructed, make good Christians.