Genius seems to consist merely in trueness of sight, in using such words as show that the man was an eye-witness, and not a repeater of what was told.

Conversation is an art in which a man has all mankind for his competitors, for it is that which all are practising every day while they live.

Although knaves win in every political struggle, although society seems to be delivered over from the hands of one set of criminals into the hands of another set of criminals, as fast as the government is changed, and the march of civilization is a train of felonies, yet, general ends are somehow answered.

Many times the reading of a book has made the future of a man.

We cannot forgive another for not being ourselves.

The invariable mark of wisdom is to see the miraculous in the common.

Of immortality, the soul, when well employed, is incurious. It is so well, that it is sure that it will be well. It asks no questions of the Supreme Power.