Most of our misfortunes are comments of our friends upon them.

True friendship is like sound health; the value of it is seldom known until it is lost.

Nothing more completely baffles one who is full of trick and duplicity himself, than straight forward and simple integrity in another.

The soundest argument will produce no more conviction in an empty head than the most superficial declamation; as a feather and a guinea fall with equal velocity in a vacuum.

The art of declamation has been sinking in value from the moment that speakers were foolish enough to publish, and hearers wise enough to read.

None are so fond of secrets as those who do not mean to keep them; such persons covet secrets as a spendthrift covets money, for the purpose of circulation.

Much may be done in those little shreds and patches of time which every day produces, and which most men throw away.

Let those who would affect singularity with success first determine to be very virtuous, and they will be sure to be very singular.

Atheism is a system which can communicate neither warmth nor illumination, except from those fagots which your mistaken zeal has lighted up for its destruction.

Deliberate with caution, but act with decision and yield with graciousness, or oppose with firmness.

The study of mathematics, like the Nile, begins in minuteness but ends in magnificence.

My brain hums with scraps of poetry and madness.

Turn your adversity into building blocks for the palace of your dreams.

When I see a new face, something sets off an alarm bell inside me. 'slow down! Danger!' Even when the attraction is strongest, I am on my guard.

There is no part of me that is not of the Gods.

Too many people go through life without pausing to enjoy what they have.

For this is the journey that men and women make, to find themselves. If they fail in this, it doesn't matter much else what they find.

All sensible people are selfish, and nature is tugging at every contract to make the terms of it fair.

Of course I have a personal life.

Just do a thing and don’t talk about it. This is the great secret of success.