A state of war or anarchy, in which law has little force, is so far valuable, that it puts every man on trial. The man of principle is known as such, and even in the fury of faction is respected.

With thought, with the ideal, is immortal hilarity, the rose of joy. Round it all the muses sing.

Everything is made of one hidden stuff.

Few and mean as my gifts may be, I actually am, and do not need for my own assurance or the assurance of my fellows any secondary testimony.

There is a capacity of virtue in us, and there is a capacity of vice to make your blood creep.

The love of novels is the preference of sentiment to the senses.

In the matter of religion, people eagerly fasten their eyes on the difference between their own creed and yours; whilst the charm of the study is in finding the agreements and identities in all the religions of humanity.