The eye of the mind, like that of the body, can only extend its view to new objects, by losing sight of those which are now before it.

Never believe extraordinary characters which you hear of people. Depend upon it, they are exaggerated. You do not see one man shoot a great deal higher than another.

Among the lower classes of mankind there will be found very little desire of any other knowledge than what may contribute immediately to the relief of some pressing uneasiness, or the attainment of some near advantage.

Books, says Lord Bacon, can never teach us the use of books; the student must learn by commerce with mankind to reduce his speculations to practice. No man should think so highly of himself as to think he can receive but little light from books; no one so meanly, as to believe he can discover nothing but what is to be learned from them.

To be prejudiced is always to be weak

Truth allows no choice.

The vanity of being known to be trusted with a secret is generally one of the chief motives to disclose it.