Tell me what you think you are and I will tell you what you are not

I do not deny the rights of democracy, but I have no illusions as to the uses that will be made of those rights so long as wisdom is rare and pride abundant

Clever people will recognize and tolerate nothing but cleverness.

Tell me what you feel in your room when the full moon is shining in upon you and your lamp is dying out, and I will tell you how old you are, and I shall know if you are happy.

Conquering any difficulty always gives one a secret joy, for it means pushing back a boundary-line and adding to one's liberty.

He who asks of life nothing but the improvement of his own nature... is less liable than anyone else to miss and waste life.