Nature never rhymes her children, nor makes two men alike. When we see a great man, we fancy a resemblance to some historical person, and predict the sequel of his character and fortune, a result which he is sure to disappoint. None will ever solve the problem of his character according to our prejudice, but only in his high unprecedented way.

A hero is no braver than an ordinary man, but he is brave five minutes longer.

The unbelief of the age is attested by the loud condemnation of trifles.

The less a man thinks or knows about his virtues, the better we like him.

There is no country in which so absolute a homage is paid to wealth. In America there is a touch of shame when a man exhibits theevidences of large property, as if after all it needed apology. But the Englishman has pure pride in his wealth, and esteems it a final certificate. A coarse logic rules throughout all English souls: if you have merit, can you not show it by your good clothes and coach and horses?

A certain awkwardness marks the use of borrowed thoughts; but as soon as we have learned what to do with them, they become our own.

There is a time in every man's education when he arrives at the conviction that envy is ignorance; that imitation is suicide.