Tobacco, coffee, alcohol, hashish, prussic acid, strychnine, are weak dilutions; the surest poison is time. This cup which nature puts to our lips, has a wonderful virtue, surpassing that of any other draught. It opens the senses, adds power, fills us with exalted dreams, which we call hope, love, ambition, science; especially it creates a craving for larger draughts of itself.

There can be no high civility without a deep morality, though it may not always call itself by that name.

The first thing a great person does is make us realize the insignificance of circumstance.

It is very unhappy, but too late to be helped, the discovery we have made, that we exist

The secret of drunkenness is, that it insulates us in thought, whilst it unites us in feeling.

The characteristic of genuine heroism is its persistency. All men have wandering impulses, fits and starts of generosity. But when you have resolved to be great, abide by yourself, and do not weakly try to reconcile yourself with the world. The heroic cannot be the common, nor the common the heroic.

Right is more beautiful than private affection, and is compatible with universal wisdom.