Force, force, everywhere force; we ourselves a mysterious force in the centre of that. "There is not a leaf rotting on the highway but has Force in it: how else could it rot?" [As used in his time, by the word force, Carlyle means energy.]

A judicious man looks at Statistics, not to "get knowledge, but to save himself from having ignorance foisted 'on him".

No ghost was every seen by two pair of eyes.

A witty statesman said, you might prove anything by figures.

A star is beautiful; it affords pleasure, not from what it is to do, or to give, but simply by being what it is. It befits the heavens; it has congruity with the mighty space in which it dwells. It has repose; no force disturbs its eternal peace. It has freedom; no obstruction lies between it and infinity.

Roguery is thought by some to be cunning and laughable: it is neither; it is devilish.

The philosopher is he to whom the highest has descended, and the lowest has mounted up; who is the equal and kindly brother of all.