Anyone is to be pitied who has just sense enough to perceive his deficiencies.

Rules and models destroy genius and art.

Mankind are an incorrigible race. Give them but bugbears and idols -- it is all that they ask; the distinctions of right and wrong, of truth and falsehood, of good and evil, are worse than indifferent to them.

Knowledge is pleasure as well as power.

We would willingly, and without remorse, sacrifice not only the present moment, but all the interval (no matter how long) that separates us from any favorite object.

True modesty and true pride are much the same thing: both consist in setting a just value on ourselves - neither more nor less.

To get others to come into our ways of thinking, we must go over to theirs; and it is necessary to follow, in order to lead.