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I never arrived at the perfection I had been so ambitious of obtaining, but fell far short of it, yet I was, by the endeavour, a better and a happier man than I otherwise should have been if I had not attempted it

While my care was employ'd in guarding against one fault, I was often surprised by another; habit took the advantage of inattention; inclination was sometimes too strong for reason.

Who does not see from all this that man has gone astray, that he has fallen from his place, that he seeks it with disquiet, that he cannot regain it?

Man is but a reed, weakest in nature, but a reed which thinks.

Without diversion no joy, with diversion no sadness.

By space the Universe encompasses and swallows me as an atom, by thought I encompass it.

Not from space must I seek my dignity, but from the ruling of my thought.

The heart has its reasons, which reason knows not, as we feel in a thousand instances.

all the misfortunes of men arise from one thing only, that they are unable to stay quietly in their own chamber

From the time that I can remember anything, almost every day of my life had been occupied in some kind of labour; though I think I would now be a more useful man if I had had time for sports.

My experience has been that the time to test a true gentleman is to observe him when he is in contact with individuals of a race that is less fortunate than his own.

I would permit no man, no matter what his colour might be, to narrow and degrade my soul by making me hate him.

Mere intelligence is still not courage, for we often see the cleverest people devoid of resolution.

Resolution is an act of courage in single instances, and if it becomes a characteristic trait, it is a habit of the mind.

There are persons who possess the keenest perception for the most difficult problems, who are also not fearful of responsibility, and yet in cases of difficulty cannot come to a resolution.

Although our intellect always feels itself urged towards clearness and certainty, still our mind often feels itself attracted by uncertainty.

Every man hath two birth-days: two days, at least, in every year, which set him upon revolving the lapse of time, as it affects his mortal duration.

Whatsoever thwarts, or puts me out of my way, brings death into my mind.

How sickness enlarges the dimensions of a man's self to himself! he is his own exclusive object.

Expect no healthy conclusions from me this month, reader; I can offer you only sick men's dreams.

Independently of the rigours of attendance, I have ever been haunted with a sense (perhaps a mere caprice) of incapacity for business.

Life appears to me too short to be spent in nursing animosity or registering wrongs.

I am no bird; and no net ensnares me: I am a free human being with an independent will

Economic independence is a relative condition at best.

To be surrounded by beautiful things has much influence upon the human creature: to make beautiful things has more.