“Bed is a bundle of paradoxes: we go to it with reluctance, yet we quit it with regret.”

A coxcomb begins by determining that his own profession is the first; and he finishes by deciding that he is the first of profession.

Revenge is fever in our own blood, to be cured only by letting the blood of another; but the remedy too often produces a relapse, which is remorse–a malady far more dreadful than the first disease, because it is incurable.

Attempts at reform, when they fail, strengthen despotism, as he that struggles tightens those cords he does not succeed in breaking.

Men of great and shining qualities do not always succeed in life, but the fault lies more often in themselves than in others.

There is nothing more imprudent than excessive prudence.

Doubt is the vestibule through which all must pass before they can enter into the temple of wisdom.

God will excuse our prayers for ourselves whenever we are prevented from them by being occupied in such good works as to entitle us to the prayers of others.

There are two principles of established acceptance in morals; first, that self-interest is the mainspring of all of our actions, and secondly, that utility is the test of their value.

Times of great calamity and confusion have been productive for the greatest minds. The purest ore is produced from the hottest furnace. The brightest thunder-bolt is elicited from the darkest storm.

Grant graciously what you cannot refuse safely and conciliate those you cannot conquer.

It is the briefest yet wisest maxim which tells us to meddle not.

For one man who sincerely pities our misfortunes, there are a thousand who sincerely hate our success.

Logic and metaphysics make use of more tools than all the rest of the sciences put together, and do the least work.

As no roads are so rough as those that have just been mended, so no sinners are so intolerant as those that have just turned saints.

Silence is less injurious than a weak reply.

Next to acquiring good friends, the best acquisition is that of good books.

A page with a poem on it is less attractive than a page with a poem on it and some tea stains.

Self-denial is often the sacrifice of one sort of self-love for another.

We who preach have one tool. We are people of the book.

The problem with spending your life climbing up the ladder is that you will go right past Jesus, for he’s coming down.

What we really believe is what we manifest. What we believe, we see.

I remember vividly one distinct memory of arriving in Hong Kong

What matters is not the accomplishments you achieve; what matters is the person you become.

We’re discovering the hidden orders of the universe every day.