Nine-tenths of the miseries and vices of mankind proceed from idleness.

Habit and imitation--there is nothing more perennial in us than these two. They are the source of all working, and all apprenticeship, of all practice, and all learning, in this world.

The first duty of man is that of subduing fear.

The glory of a workman, still more of a master workman, that he does his work well, ought to be his most precious possession; like the honor of a soldier, dearer to him than life.

For man is not the creature and product of Mechanism; but, in a far truer sense, its creator and producer.

The eternal stars shine out again, so soon as it is dark enough.

Clever men are good, but they are not the best.