The first wealth is health.

A man is relieved and gay when he has put his heart into his work and done his best; but what he has said or done otherwise shall give him no peace.

The arts and inventions of each period are only its costume, and do not invigorate men.

The world always had the same bankrupt look, to foregoing ages as to us.

Steam is no stronger now than it was a hundred years ago, but it is put to better use.

All public facts are to be individualized, all private facts are to be generalized.

The student is to read history actively and not passively; to esteem his own life the text, and books the commentary. Thus compelled, the muse of history will utter oracles as never to those who do not respect themselves.