Rings and jewels are not gifts, but apologies for gifts. The only gift is a portion of thyself. Thou must bleed for me. Therefore the poet brings his poem; the shepherd, his lamb; the farmer, corn; the miner, a stone; the painter, his picture; the girl, a handkerchief of her own sewing.

It is noticed, that the consideration of the great periods and spaces of astronomy induces a dignity of mind, and an indifferenceto death.

As men's prayers are a disease of the will, so are their creeds a disease of the intellect.

The effect of the indulgence of human affection is a certain cordial exhilaration.

There is properly no history, only biography.

Life is very narrow. Bring any club or company of intelligent men together again after ten years, and if the presence of some penetrating and calming genius could dispose them to frankness, what a confession of insanities would come up!

To the body and mind which have been cramped by noxious work or company, nature is medicinal and restores their tone.