Nature magically suits a man to his fortunes, by making them the fruit of his character.

I am become a transparent eyeball.

Every man believes he has a greater possibility.

The most attractive class of people are those who are powerful obliquely, and not by the direct stroke: men of genius, but not yetaccredited: one gets the cheer of their light, without paying too great a tax.

To aim to convert a man by miracles is a profanation of the soul. A true conversion, a true Christ, is now, as always, to be madeby the reception of beautiful sentiments.

The saint and poet seek privacy to ends the most public and universal: and it is the secret of culture, to interest the man more in his public, than in his private quality.

It seems to be a rule of wisdom never to rely on memory alone.