Any one who has studied the history of science knows that almost every great step therein has been made by the "anticipation of Nature," that is, by the invention of hypotheses, which, though verifiable, often had very little foundation to start with; and, not unfrequently, in spite of a long career of usefulness, turned out to be wholly erroneous in the long run.

There are savages without God in any proper sense of the word, but none without ghosts.

Action is the catalyst that creates accomplishments. It is the path that takes us from uncrafted hopes to realized dreams.

God give me strength to face a fact though it slay me.

I protest that if some great Power would agree to make me always think what is true and do what is right, on condition of being turned into a sort of clock and would up every morning before I got out of bed, I should instantly close with the offer.

Extinguished theologians lie about the cradle of every science, as strangled snakes beside that of Hercules

There is assuredly no more effectual method of clearing up one's own mind on any subject than by talking it over, so to speak, with men of real power and grasp, who have considered it from a totally different point of view.