Hint at the existence of wickedness in a light, easy, and agreeable manner, so that nobody's fine feelings may be offended.

He was always thinking of his brother's soul, or of the souls of those who differed with him in opinion: it is a sort of comfort which many of the serious give themselves.

Ah! gracious Heaven gives us eyes to see our own wrong, however dim age may make them; and knees not too stiff to kneel, in spite of years, cramp, and rheumatism.

Perhaps all early love affairs ought to be strangled or drowned, like so many blind kittens.

It is best to love wisely, no doubt; but to love foolishly is better than not to be able to love at all.

He first selected the smallest one...and then bowed his head as though he were saying grace. Opening his mouth very wide, he struggled for a moment, after which all was over. I shall never forget the comic look of despair he cast upon the other five over-occupied shells. I asked him how he felt. 'Profoundly grateful,' he said, 'as if I had swallowed a small baby.'

Time passes, Time the consoler, Time the anodyne.