The fruit of the tree of knowledge always drives man from some paradise or other; and even the paradise of fools is not an unpleasant abode while it is habitable.

The great discovery of the nineteenth century, that we are of one blood with the lower animals, has created new ethical obligations which have not yet penetrated the public conscience. The clerical profession has been lamentably remiss in preaching this obvious duty.

I think middle-age is the best time, if we can escape the fatty degeneration of the conscience which often sets in at about fifty.

God does not always punish a nation by sending it adversity. More often He gives the oppressors their hearts' desire, and sends leanness withal into their soul.

The proper time to influence the character of a child is about a hundred years before he is born.

Events in the past may be roughly divided into those which probably never happened and those which do not matter.

The modern world belongs to the half-educated, a rather difficult class, because they do not realize how little they know.