My life, as it passes thus, was indeed hateful to me, and it was during sleep alone that I could taste joy. O blessed sleep!

Accursed creator! Why did you form a monster so hideous that even you turned from me in disgust?

There is something at work in my soul, which I do not understand.

Of what a strange nature is knowledge! It clings to a mind when it has once seized on it like a lichen on a rock." - Frankenstein p115

Nothing is so painful to the human mind as a great and sudden change.

A mind of moderate capacity which closely pursues one study must infallibly arrive at great proficiency in that study.

Ah! it is well for the unfortunate to be resigned, but for the guilty there is no peace.

Life, although it may only be an accumulation of anguish, is dear to me, and I will defend it.

There was a considerable difference between the ages of my parents, but this circumstance seemed to unite them only closer in bonds of devoted affection.

If your wish is to become really a man of science and not merely a petty experimentalist, I should advise you to apply to every branch of natural philosophy, including mathematics.

the companions of our childhood always possess a certain power over our minds which hardly any later friend can obtain.

For pure joy, I look at a small painting by Arbit Blatas. An ocean liner is at the center of the composition, perhaps ready to depart. It holds the promise of discovery.

I started painting as a hobby when I was little. I didn't know I had any talent. I believe talent is just a pursued interest. Anybody can do what I do.

Better a sovereign in squalor than a slave in splendor.

A passage is not plain English - still less is it good English - if we are obliged to read it twice to find out what it means.

Everybody knew that books were dangerous. Read the wrong book, it was said, and the words crawled around your brain on black legs and drove you mad, wicked mad.

I'm feeling lucky like a four-leaf clover

No American is ever made better off by pulling a fellow American down, and all of us are made better off whenever any one of us is made better off.

In statesmanship get formalities right, never mind about the moralities.

My acting range? Left eyebrow raised, right eyebrow raised.

The "Ways & Means Committee" is a committee that's supposed to find the Ways to divide up the Means.