God has made no one absolute.

Every man should study conciseness in speaking; it is a sign of ignorance not to know that long speeches, though they may please the speaker, are the torture of the hearer.

He who would be singular in his apparel had need have something superlative to balance that affectation.

Meditation is the soul's perspective glass.

Negligence is the rust of the soul that corrodes through all her best resolves.

The greatest results in life are usually attained by simple means and the exercise of ordinary qualities. These may for the most part be summed up in these two - common sense and perseverance.

Promises may get friends, but it is performance that must nurse and keep them.

It is much safer to reconcile an enemy than to conquer him; victory may deprive him of his poison, but reconciliation of his will.

To trust God when we have securities in our iron chest is easy, but not thankworthy; but to depend on him for what we cannot see, as it is more hard for man to do, so it is more acceptable to God.

There is no belittling worse than to over praise a man.

Where there is plenty, charity is a duty, not a courtesy

Life is sacred existence.

She had never before minded being alone. Now she dreaded it. When she was alone now she felt so dreadfully alone.

I write because, as wonderful as life is - and it is truly wonderful - it isn't enough. It does not, for example, contain dragons. I find this unsatisfactory. So I read. And I write.

When a man begins to understand himself he begins to live.

You can kiss me if you like," she said. Alex let go of her and turned away. "Thanks, Fiona," he said. "But frankly I'd prefer to kiss the horse.

If you find that a point cannot be made without narration, it is virtually certain that the point is unimportant to the story (which is to say, to the audience).

who hasn't slept in an empty bed sometimes, longing for the embrace of another person on the achingly short trip to the grave?

A bottle of wine contains more philosophy than all the books in the world.

Teach by teaching, not by correcting

The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.