The happiness of life is made up of minute fractions.

History has a point of view; it cannot be all things to all people.

I have often thought what a melancholy world this would be without children, and what an inhuman world without the aged.

Why is it that so many of us persist in thinking that autumn is a sad season? Nature has merely fallen asleep, and her dreams must be beautiful if we are to judge by her countenance.

Exclusively of the abstract sciences, the largest and worthiest portion of our knowledge consists of aphorisms: and the greatest and best of men is but an aphorism.

Every human feeling is greater and larger than its exciting cause-a proof, I think, that man is designed for a higher state of existence.

A maxim is a conclusion upon observation of matters of fact, and is merely speculative; a "principle" carries knowledge within itself, and is prospective.