“We have two useless gods who never leave our island, but like to dwell in it constantly, Poverty and Helplessness.”

Dreams in general take their rise from those incidents which have most occupied the thoughts during the day.

Some give up their designs when they have almost reached the goal; while others, on the contrary, obtain a victory by exerting, at the last moment, more vigorous efforts than ever before.

Unless a variety of opinions are laid before us, we have no opportunity of selection, but are bound of necessity to adopt the particular view which may have been brought forward.

The man who has planned badly, if fortune is on his side, may have had a stroke of luck; but his plan was a bad one nonetheless.

Great things are won by great dangers.

Far better it is to have a stout heart always and suffer one’s share of evils, than to be ever fearing what may happen.

Before a man dies, hold back and call him not happy but lucky.

Good masters generally have bad slaves, and bad slaves have good masters.

Adversity has the effect of drawing out strength and qualities of a man that would have laid dormant in its absence.

Where even a falsehood must be told, let it be told.

I am bound to tell what I am told, but not in every case to believe it.

Great deeds are usually wrought at great risks.

Whatever comes from God is impossible for a man to turn back.

The man of affluence is not in fact more happy than the possessor of a bare competency, unless, in addition to his wealth, the end of his life be fortunate. We often see misery dwelling in the midst of splendour, whilst real happiness is found in humbler stations.

As the old saw says well: every end does not appear together with its beginning. It’s impossible for someone who is human to have all good things together, just as there is no single country able to provide all good things for itself.

Chances rule men and not men chances.