The act of praying is the very highest energy of which the human mind is capable; praying, that is, with the total concentration of the faculties. The great mass of worldly men and of learned men are absolutely incapable of prayer.

Motives by excess reverse their very nature and instead of exciting, stun and stupefy the mind.

You do not believe, you only believe that you believe.

Every reform, however necessary, will by weak minds be carried to an excess, that itself will need reforming.

Oh worse than everything, is kindness counterfeiting absent love.

What is one man's gain is another's loss.

The first great requisite is absolute sincerity. Falsehood and disguise are miseries and misery-makers.