Attempts at reform, when they fail, strengthen despotism, as he that struggles tightens those cords he does not succeed in breaking.

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.

May the Lord grant you great grace, great strength and great wisdom.

When we know that His plans are to prosper us and give us hope and future, we bow down at once to the blessing of pruning, knowing that the change that will take place in us, will take us places.

I love inspirational R&B, like Mary J. Blige and Jennifer Hudson. I want to do that. That kind of music stays with you.

I have had wealth, rank and power, but, if these were all I had, how wretched I should be.

I know why we lost the Civil War. We must have had the same officials.

Well, actually, plucking my eyebrows is more of a hobby than a grooming tip.

In order to be an economist these days, you have to participate in this fairytale that somehow we can recover and still make the banks rich. And it is a fairytale.

Something I am wondering: if you cannot hear do you have no sounds in your head? Do you see a silent movie

I have no idea where my pathetic nature comes from. If I thought about it too long, it would depress me.

Noooo, there’s no way I, a mere handsome and sexy shopkeeper, could possibly have bankai!