Hope is a prodigal young heir, and experience is his banker.

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.

The hated man is the result of his hater's pride rather than his hater's conscience.

Tragedy had its compensations. Once the worst misfortune occurred one never worried about the minor ones.

I was a high-school teacher. I am a strong advocate for women's rights, and I'm not a woman.

Much outcry, little outcome.

Avatar is a total nerd thing, and yet our popular culture has somehow made all that stuff acceptable.

In America, one sure sign of success is the presence of an unnecessary waterfall in a person's yard.

I love him who loveth his virtue: for virtue is the will to down-going, and an arrow of longing.

We have nothing against Communism.

I befriend people too quickly - I don't think that's wrong, but I get told that I should be a bit more careful.

If you're yelling you're the one who's lost control of the conversation.