Principles do not mainly influence even the principled; we talk on principle, but we act on interest.

Truth is a point, the subtlest and finest; harder than adamant; never to be broken, worn away, or blunted. Its only bad quality is, that it is sure to hurt those who touch it; and likely to draw blood, perhaps the life blood, of those who press earnestly upon it.

We cannot at once catch the applauses of the vulgar and expect the approbation of the wise.

There is no easy path leading out of life, and few are the easy ones that lie within it.

No ashes are lighter than those of incense, and few things burn out sooner.

When a cat flatters ... he is not insincere: you may safely take it for real kindness.

We fancy we suffer from ingratitude, while in reality we suffer from self-love.