The ascendency of the sacerdotal order was long the ascendency which naturally and properly belonged to intellectual superiority.

War is never lenient but where it is wanton; where men are compelled to fight in self-defence, they must hate and avenge. This may be bad, but it is human nature; it is the clay as it came from the hands of the Potter.

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.

And to say that society ought to be governed by the opinion of the wisest and best, though true, is useless. Whose opinion is to decide who are the wisest and best?

The whole history of Christianity proves that she has little indeed to fear from persecution as a foe, but much to fear from persecution as an ally.

A single breaker may recede; but the tide is evidently coming in.

Generalization is necessary to the advancement of knowledge; but particularity is indispensable to the creations of the imagination.