Even in the common affairs of life, in love, friendship, and marriage, how little security have we when we trust our happiness in the hands of others!

Let a man's talents or virtues be what they may, he will only feel satisfaction in his society as he is satisfied in himself.

If our hours were all serene, we might probably take almost as little note of them as the dial does of those that are clouded.

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

The greatest pleasure in life is that of reading while we are young. I have had as much of this pleasure perhaps as any one.

Books are a world in themselves, it is true; but they are not the only world. The world itself is a volume larger than all the libraries in it.

When I take up a book I have read before, I know what to expect; the satisfaction is not lessened by being anticipated. I shake hands with, and look our old tried and valued friend in the face,--compare notes and chat the hour away.