With regard to the duration of human life, there does not appear to have existed from the earliest ages of the world to the present moment the smallest permanent symptom or indication of increasing prolongation.

The finest minds seem to be formed rather by efforts at original thinking, by endeavours to form new combinations, and to discover new truths, than by passively receiving the impressions of other men's ideas.

The germs of existence contained in this spot of earth, with ample food, and ample room to expand in, would fill millions of worlds in the course of a few thousand years.

In 1860, sixty-three per cent of the couples married in Great Britain had families of four or more children; in 1925 only twenty per cent had more than four.

Whether the law of marriage be instituted or not, the dictate of nature and virtue seems to be an early attachment to one woman.

A writer may tell me that he thinks man will ultimately become an ostrich. I cannot properly contradict him.

I do not know that any writer has supposed that on this earth man will ultimately be able to live without food.