Every theory in philosophy, which is built on pure conjecture, is an elephant; and every theory that is supported partly by fact, and partly by conjecture, is like Nebuchadnezzar's image, whose feet were partly of iron, and partly of clay.

The rules of navigation never navigated a ship. The rules of architecture never built a house.

There is no greater impediment to the advancement of knowledge than the ambiguity of words.

It is a question of fact, whether the influence of motives be fixed by laws of nature, so that they shall always have the same effect in the same circumstances.

must acknowledge, that to act properly is much more valuable than to think justly or reason acutely.

Every indication of wisdom, taken from the effect, is equally an indication of power to execute what wisdom planned.

I wanted to be a part of the downtown renaissance.