What a singular destiny has been that of this remarkable man!-To be regarded in his own age as a classic, and in ours as a companion! To receive from his contemporaries that full homage which men of genius have in general received only from posterity; to be more intimately known to posterity than other men are known to their contemporaries!

Logicians may reason about abstractions. But the great mass of men must have images. The strong tendency of the multitude in all ages and nations to idolatry can be explained on no other principle.

The Orientals have another word for accident; it is "kismet,"--fate.

In employing fiction to make truth clear and goodness attractive, we are only following the example which every Christian ought to propose to himself.

Even the law of gravitation would be brought into dispute were there a pecuniary interest involved.

Great minds do indeed react on the society which has made them what they are; but they only pay with interest what they have received.

Politeness has been well defined as benevolence in small things.