All things are flowing, even those that seem immovable. The adamant is always passing into smoke. The plants imbibe the materialswhich they want from the air and the ground. They burn, that is, exhale and decompose their own bodies into the air and earth again. The animal burns, or undergoes the like perpetual consumption. The earth burns, the mountains burn and decompose, slower, but incessantly.

For what avail the plough or sail, or land or life, if freedom fail?

We over-estimate the conscience of our friend. His goodness seems better than our goodness, his nature finer, his temptations less. Everything that is his,--his name, his form, his dress, books, and instruments,--fancy enhances. Our own thought sounds new and larger from his mouth.

We must be courteous to a man as we are to a picture, which we are willing to give the advantage of a good light.

Wisdom is not found with those who dwell at their ease; rather nature, when she adds brain, adds difficulty.

The population of the world is a conditional population; these are not the best, but the best that could live in the existing state of soils, gases, animals, and morals: the best that could yet live; there shall be a better, please God.

He is a dull observer whose experience has not taught him the reality and force of magic, as well as of chemistry.