He had no failings which were not owing to a noble cause; to an ardent, generous, perhaps an immoderate passion for fame; a passion which is the instinct of all great souls.

Applause is the spur of noble minds, the end and aim of weak ones.

The person who grieves suffers his passion to grow upon him; he indulges it, he loves it; but this never happens in the case of actual pain, which no man ever willingly endured for any considerable time.

It is our ignorance of things that causes all our admiration and chiefly excites our passions.

Good instincts usually tell you what to do long before your head has figured it out.

He that wrestles with us strengthens our nerves and sharpens our skill. Our antagonist is our helper.