There is nothing so unthinkable as thought, unless it be the entire absence of thought.

Life is a quarry, out of which we are to mold and chisel and complete a character.

The youth of an art is, like the youth of anything else, its most interesting period. When it has come to the knowledge of good and evil it is stronger, but we care less about it.

All progress is based upon a universal innate desire on the part of every organism to live beyond its income.

Marriage is distinctly and repeatedly excluded from heaven. Is this because it is thought likely to mar the general felicity?

A man should be just cultured enough to be able to look with suspicion upon culture at first, not second hand.

My main wish is to get my books into other people's rooms, and to keep other people's books out of mine.