When new turns of behavior cease to appear in the life of the individual, its behavior ceases to be intelligent.
Thomas CarlyleOnly perhaps in the United States, which alone of countries can do without governing,every man being at least able to live, and move off into the wilderness, let Congress jargon as it will,can such a form of so-called Government continue for any length of time to torment men with the semblance, when the indispensable substance is not there.
Thomas CarlyleInstead of saying that man is the creature of circumstance, it would be nearer the mark to say that man is the architect of circumstance.
Thomas CarlyleHardened round us, encasing wholly every notion we form is a wrapping of traditions, hearsay's, and mere words.
Thomas CarlyleFor the superior morality, of which we hear so much, we too would desire to be thankful: at the same time, it were but blindness to deny that this superior morality is properly rather an inferior criminality, produced not by greater love of Virtue, but by greater perfection of Police; and of that far subtler and stronger Police, called Public Opinion.
Thomas Carlyle