Those who wish to forget painful thoughts do well to absent themselves for a while from, the ties and objects that recall them; but we can be said only to fulfill our destiny in the place that gave us birth.

To a superior race of being the pretensions of mankind to extraordinary sanctity and virtue must seem... ridiculous.

The book-worm wraps himself up in his web of verbal generalities, and sees only the glimmering shadows of things reflected from the minds of others.

It is remarkable how virtuous and generously disposed every one is at a play.

To display the greatest powers, unless they are applied to great purposes, makes nothing for the character of greatness.

It is a false principle that because we are entirely occupied with ourselves, we must equally occupy the thoughts of others. The contrary inference is the fair one.

Every one in a crowd has the power to throw dirt; none out of ten have the inclination.