Night is a dead monotonous period under a roof; but in the open world it passes lightly, with its stars and dews and perfumes, and the hours are marked by changes in the face of Nature. What seems a kind of temporal death to people choked between walls and curtains, is only a light and living slumber to the man who sleeps afield.

Most of our pocket wisdom is conceived for the use of mediocre people, to discourage them from ambitious attempts, and generally console them in their mediocrity.

The Devil, can sometimes do a very gentlemanly thing.

I incline to Cain's heresy," he used to say quaintly: "I let my brother go to the devil in his own way.

The most beautiful adventures are not those we go to seek.

I have seen wicked men and fools, a great many of both; and I believe they both get paid in the end; but the fools first.

The essence of love is kindness.