“The powers of nature are never in repose; her work never stands still.”

Considered as a mere question of physics, (and keeping all moral considerations entirely out of sight,) the appearance of man is a geological phenomenon of vast importance

Or holds them of no account in the estimate of his origin and place in the created world.

We must in imagination sweep off the drifted matter that clogs the surface of the ground;

The utmost movements that he allows are a slight quivering of her muscular integuments.

Our labours for the black people of Africa were works of madmen; and man and woman are only better beasts!

Among the older records, we find chapter after chapter of which we can read the characters, and make out their meaning: and as we approach the period of man’s creation,

If the [Vestiges] be true, the labours of sober induction are in vain; religion is a lie; human law is a mass of folly, and a base injustice; morality is moonshine

The world is not as it was when it came from its Maker’s hands.

Our chronicle seems to fail us-a leaf has been torn out from nature’s record, and the succession of events is almost hidden from our eyes.

As a system of philosophy it is not like the Tower of Babel, so daring its high aim as to seek a shelter against God’s anger; but it is like a pyramid poised on its apex.

Like so much horse-physic!! Gross credulity and rank infidelity joined in unlawful marriage, and breeding a deformed progeny of unnatural conclusions!

Indirectly modifying the whole surface of the earth, breaking in upon any supposition of zoological continuity, and utterly unaccounted for by what we have any right to call the laws of nature.

A cold atheistical materialism is the tendency of the so-called material philosophy of the present day.

Yet Mr. Lyell will admit no greater paroxysms than we ourselves have witnessed-no periods of feverish spasmodic energy, during which the very framework of nature has been convulsed and torn asunder.

And why is this done? For no other reason, I am sure, except to make us independent of a Creator.

The sober facts of geology shuffled, so as to play a rogue’s game; phrenology (that sinkhole of human folly and prating coxcombry); spontaneous generation; transmutation of species; and I know not what; all to be swallowed, without tasting and trying

The saddest thing in life and the hardest to live through, is the knowledge that there is someone you love very much whom you cannot save from suffering.

You have no idea how much nastier I would be if I was not a Catholic. Without supernatural aid I would hardly be a human being.

I try to be cynical, but it’s so hard to keep up.

I’m very hard on myself and I have too many issues.

You’re hard to please: so many friends and so few cares, and can’t make yourself content.

My Love is like to ice, and I to fire: How comes it then that this her cold so great Is not dissolved through my so hot desire, But harder grows the more I her entreat?

I think one of the reasons I pushed myself so hard and worked so hard is because I never felt special.

It’s been really, really hard, but you’ve been so brave.