A man is a hypocrite only when he affects to take a delight in what he does not feel, not because he takes a perverse delight in opposite things.

One truth discovered, one pang of regret at not being able to express it, is better than all the fluency and flippancy in the world.

I am not, in the ordinary acceptation of the term, a good-natured man; that is, many things annoy me besides what interferes with my own ease and interest. I hate a lie; a piece of injustice wounds me to the quick, though nothing but the report of it reach me. Therefore I have made many enemies and few friends; for the public know nothing of well-wishers, and keep a wary eye on those who would reform them.

I like a person who knows his own mind and sticks to it; who sees at once what is to be done in given circumstances and does it. He does not beat about the bush for difficulties or excuses, but goes the shortest and most effectual way to work to attain his own ends, or to accomplish a useful object.

To think justly, we must understand what others mean. To know the value of our thoughts, we must try their effect on other minds.

The soul of a journey is liberty, perfect liberty, to think, feel, do just as one pleases.

Cowardice is not synonymous with prudence. It often happens that the better part of discretion is valor.