One is always more vexed at losing a game of any sort by a single hole or ace, than if one has never had a chance of winning it.

Our notions with respect to the importance of life, and our attachment to it, depend on a principle which has very little to do with its happiness or its misery. The love of life is, in general, the effect not of our enjoyments, but of our passions.

The English (it must be owned) are rather a foul-mouthed nation.

Abuse is an indirect species of homage.

A felon could plead "benefit of clergy" and be saved by [reading aloud] what was aptly enough termed the "neck verse", which was very usually the Miserere mei of Psalm 51.

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.

No young man ever thinks he shall die.