I believe it is the conviction of the purest men, that the net amount of man and man does not much vary. Each is incomparably superior to his companion in some faculty. His want of skill in other directions, has added to his fitness for his own work.

There are no fixtures in nature. The universe is fluid and volatile. Permanence is but a word of degrees.

Among provocatives, the next best thing to good preaching is bad preaching. I have even more thoughts during or enduring it than at other times.

Why should I cumber myself with regrets that the receiver is not capacious? It never troubles the sun that some of his rays fall wide and vain into ungrateful space, and only a small part on the reflecting planet. Let your greatness educate the crude and cold companion.

Truth is the summit of being; justice is the application of it to affairs.

It is not length of life, but depth of life.

Coolness and absence of heat and haste indicate fine qualities.