The religion of Christ is peace and good-will,--the religion of Christendom is war and ill-will.

The most pernicious of absurdities is that weak, blind, stupid faith is better than the constant practice of every human virtue.

The flame of anger, bright and brief, sharpens the barb of love.

Wisdom consisteth not in knowing many things, nor even in knowing them thoroughly; but in choosing and in following what conduces the most certainly to our lasting happiness and true glory.

The vain poet is of the opinion that nothing of his can be too much: he sends to you basketful after basketful of juiceless fruit, covered with scentless flowers.

Let me take up your metaphor. Friendship is a vase, which, when it is flawed by heat or violence or accident, may as well be broken at once; it can never be trusted after. The more graceful and ornamental it was, the more clearly do we discern the hopelessness of restoring it to its former state. Coarse stones, if they are fractured, may be cemented again; precious stones, never.

Where power is absent we may find the robe of genius, but we miss the throne.