What is a weed? A plant whose virtues have never been discovered.

I have thought a sufficient measure of civilization is the influence of good women.

Flowers are the earth laughing.

I hate the giving of the hand unless the whole man accompanies it.

People disparage knowing and the intellectual life, and urge doing. I am content with knowing, if only I could know.

A just thinker will allow full swing to his scepticism. I dip my pen in the blackest ink, because I am not afraid of falling into my inkpot.... We are of different opinions at different hours, but we always may be said to be at heart on the side of truth.

There is nothing in history to parallel the influence of Jesus Christ.