Man is certainly stark mad; he cannot make a worm, and yet he will be making gods by dozens.
I find I am much prouder of the victory I obtain over myself, when, in the very ardor of dispute, I make myself submit to my adversary’s force of reason, than I am pleased with the victory I obtain over him through his weakness.
Let us give Nature a chance; she knows her business better than we do.
If there is such a thing as a good marriage, it is because it resembles friendship rather than love.
Every man has within himself the entire human condition.
When I dance, I dance; when I sleep, I sleep; yes, and when I walk alone in a beautiful orchard, if my thoughts drift to far-off matters for some part of the time for some other part I lead them back again to the walk, the orchard, to the sweetness of this solitude, to myself.
The great and glorious masterpiece of man is to live with purpose.
All is a-swarm with commentaries: of authors there is a dearth.
Between ourselves, there are two things that I have always observed to be in singular accord: supercelestial thoughts and subterranean conduct.
I will follow the good side right to the fire, but not into it if I can help it.
Philosophy believes she has not made a bad use of her resources when she has bestowed on Reason sovereign mastery over our soul and authority to bridle our appetites.
Valor is stability, not of legs and arms, but of courage and the soul.