There are dull and bright, sacred and profane, coarse and fine egotists. It is a disease that, like influenza, falls on all constitutions. In the distemper known to physicians as chorea, the patient sometimes turns round, and continues to spin slowly in one spot. Is egotism a metaphysical varioloid of this malady?

The finest poetry was first experience.

I do then with my friends as I do with my books. I would have them where I can find them, but I seldom use them.

A man is related to all nature.

Nature is no spendthrift, but takes the shortest way to her ends.

The secret of ugliness consists not in irregularity, but in being uninteresting.

Great men are more distinguished by range and extent than by originality.