Have the courage to be ignorant of a great number of things, in order to avoid the calamity of being ignorant of everything.

What would life be without arithmetic, but a scene of horrors?

Find fault, when you must find fault, in private, if possible; and some time after the offense, rather than at the time.

No man can ever end with being superior who will not begin with being inferior.

Solitude cherishes great virtues and destroys little ones.

A great deal of talent is lost to the world for the want of a little courage. Every day sends to their graves a number of obscure men who have only remained obscure because their timidity has prevented them from making a first effort; and who, if they could only have been induced to begin, would in all probability have gone great lengths in the career of fame.

Hope is the belief, more or less strong, that joy will come.