Life is not a set campaign, but an irregular work, and the main forces in it are not overt resolutions, but latent and half-involuntary promptings.

The maxim of science is simply that of common sense-simple cases first; begin with seeing how the main force acts when there is as little as possible to impede it, and when you thoroughly comprehend that, add to it in succession the separate effects of each of the incumbering and interfering agencies.

Whenever two people meet, there are really six people present. There is each man as he sees The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do.

Stupidity is nature's favorite resource for preserving consistency of opinion.

The reason why so few good books are written is that so few people who can write know anything.

Poverty is an anomaly to rich people; it is very difficult to make out why people who want dinner do not ring the bell.

In the faculty of writing nonsense, stupidity is no match for genius.