“If from society we learn to live, solitude should teach us how to die.”

Come what may, I have been blest.

What should I have known or written had I been a quiet, mercantile politician or a lord in waiting? A man must travel, and turmoil, or there is no existence.

The first moment of an universal republic would convert me into an advocate for single and uncontradicted despotism.

The tiger will himself intervene in the discussion, in a manner which will be in every sense conclusive.

The devil was the first democrat

Of religion I know nothing — at least, in its favor.

This is to be mortal, And seek the things beyond mortality.

Damn description, it is always disgusting.

The best prophet of the future is the past.

I deny nothing, but doubt everything.

Few things surpass old wine; and they may preach Who please, the more because they preach in vain

Friendship may, and often does, grow into love, but love never subsides into friendship.

Love will find a way through paths where wolves fear to prey.

I learned to love despair.

I do not believe in any religion, I will have nothing to do with immortality. We are miserable enough in this life without speculating upon another.

Let joy be unconfined.

Learn how spirit works, a few simple rules, living a perfect spiritual life is easy,

The love of learning, the sequestered nooks, And all the sweet serenity of books.

How can any one paint who cannot grade colors? How can any one write poetry who has not learnt to hear and see?

Learning is not compulsory… neither is survival.

I have heard endlessly that fish are so resilient that there is no way that you could exterminate a species. We are learning otherwise.

I am learning all the time. The tombstone will be my diploma.

Since the middle of the 20th century, more has been learnt about the ocean than during all preceding human history; at the same time, more has been lost.

We should preserve every scrap of biodiversity as priceless while we learn to use it and come to understand what it means to humanity.