Sensibility would be a good portress if she had but one hand; with her right she opens the door to pleasure, but with her left to pain.

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.

Sometimes it’s heartbreaking to see your siblings as the people they’ve become. Maybe that’s why we all stay away from each other as a matter of course.

Be Lion in drawing a Line

But sometimes you don’t know what you’re looking for until it’s already knocked you flat on your back.

Opera is the ultimate art form. It has singing and music and drama and dance and emotion and story.

I love my hunting dog. I loved my hunting dog - I'm not very good at hunting.

A full mind is an empty bat.

Nothing is harder than working with an actor who doesn't take it seriously or show up in the same way that you are.

If true, rarely beautiful. If beautiful, rarely true.

Each time a door closes, the rest of the world opens up.

There's a very comfortable techno-libertarian culture where you think you're doing the right thing.