Bachelors' wives and old maids' children are always perfect.

When a man and a woman have an overwhelming passion for each other, it seems to me, in spite of such obstacles dividing them as parents or husband, that they belong to each other in the name of Nature, and are lovers by Divine right, in spite of human convention or the laws.

Most benefactors are like unskillful generals who take the city and leave the citadel intact.

Success makes success, like money makes money.

Though we best know and cannot deny our imperfections, it is not for us to lose our self-reliance and true manhood.

Most of those who make collections of verse or epigram are like men eating cherries or oysters: they choose out the best at first, and end by eating all.

We need to be just before we are generous, as we need shirts before ruffles.