Nature is an endless combination and repetition of a very few laws. She hums the old well-known air through innumerable variations.

A great man is always willing to be little.

Very idle is all curiosity concerning other people's estimate of us, and all fear of remaining unknown is not less so.

The intellectual man requires a fine bait; the sots are easily amused. But everybody is drugged with his own frenzy, and the pageant marches at all hours, with music and banner and badge.

We come to our own and would make friends with matter, which the ambitious chatter of the schools would persuade us to despise. We can never part with it; the mind loves its old home: as water to our thirst, so is rock, the ground, to our eyes, and hands, and feet. It is firm water: it is cold flame: what health, what affinity!

Whenever a true theory appears, it will be its own evidence. Its test is, that it will explain all phenomena.

General ideas are essences. They are our gods: they round and ennoble the most partial and sordid way of living.