As hardly anything can accidentally touch the soft clay without stamping its mark on it, so hardly any reading can interest a child, without contributing in some degree, though the book itself be afterwards totally forgotten, to form the character.

Falsehood, like poison, will generally be rejected when administered alone; but when blended with wholesome ingredients may be swallowed unperceived.

Some persons follow the dictates of their conscience only in the same sense in which a coachman may be said to follow the horses he is driving.

A man is called selfish not for pursuing his own good, but for neglecting his neighbor's.

When a man says he wants to work, what he means is that he wants wages.

To know your ruling passion, examine your castles in the air.

He only is exempt from failures who makes no efforts.