If any person had told the Parliament which met in terror and perplexity after the crash of 1720 that in 1830 the wealth of England would surpass all their wildest dreams, that the annual revenue would equal the principal of that debt which they considered an intolerable burden, that for one man of

Power, safely defied, touches its downfall.

Mere negation, mere Epicurean infidelity, as Lord Bacon most justly observes, has never disturbed the peace of the world. It furnishes no motive for action; it inspires no enthusiasm; it has no missionaries, no crusades, no martyrs.

A dominant religion is never ascetic.

That wonderful book, while it obtains admiration from the most fastidious critics, is loved by those who are too simple to admire it.

Half-knowledge is worse than ignorance.

In Plato's opinion, man was made for philosophy; in Bacon's opinion, philosophy was made for man.