There is a certain wisdom of humanity which is common to the greatest men with the lowest, and which our ordinary education oftenlabors to silence and obstruct.

All high beauty has a moral element in it.

The intellect searches out the Absolute order of things as they stand in the mind of God, and without the colors of affection. The intellectual and the active powers seem to succeed each other, and the exclusive activity of the one generates the exclusive activity of the other. There is something unfriendly in each to the other, but they are like the alternate periods of feeding and working in animals; each prepares and will be followed by the other.

There is a good ear, in some men, that draws supplies to virtue out of very indifferent nutriment.

It is defeat which educates us.

Let the bird sing without deciphering the song.

Always pay; for first or last you must pay your entire debt.