The relations of the soul to the divine spirit are so pure, that it is profane to seek to interpose helps.

The astonishment of life is the absence of any appearances of reconciliation between the theory and the practice of life.

A weed is a plant whose virtue is not yet known.

I do not wish to please him; I wish that he should wish to please me.

'Tis a good rule in every journey to provide some piece of liberal study to rescue the hours which bad weather, bad company, and taverns steal from the best economist.

No man can quite emancipate himself from his age and country, or produce a model in which the education, the religion, the politics, usages, and arts, of his times shall have no share.

The stars awaken a certain reverence, because though always present, they are inaccessible; but all natural objects make a kindred impression, when the mind is open to their influence. Nature never wears a mean appearance.