Nothing is quite beautiful alone; nothing but is beautiful in the whole. A single object is only so far beautiful as it suggests this universal grace.

In every society some men are born to rule, and some to advise.

The imagination and the senses cannot be gratified at the same time.

In my dealing with my child, my Latin and Greek, my accomplishments and my money stead me nothing; but as much soul as I have avails. If I am wilful, he sets his will against mine, one for one, and leaves me, if I please, the degradation of beating him by my superiority of strength. But if I renounce my will, and act for the soul, setting that up as umpire between us two, out of his young eyes looks the same soul; he reveres and loves with me.

The wise know that foolish legislation is a rope of sand, which perishes in the twisting.

The people are to be taken in very small doses.

The creation of a thousand forests is in one acorn.