“We listen with deep interest to what we hear, for to man novelty is ever charming.”

To laugh, if but for an instant only, has never been granted to man before the fortieth day from his birth, and then it is looked upon as a miracle of precocity.

Grief has limits, whereas apprehension has none. For we grieve only for what we know has happened, but we fear all that possibly may happen.

Why do we believe that in all matters the odd numbers are more powerful?

The agricultural population produces the bravest men, the most valiant soldiers,46 and a class of citizens the least given of all to evil designs.

The brain is the highest of the organs in position, and it is protected by the vault of the head; it has no flesh or blood or refuse. It is the citadel of sense-perception.

It is a maxim universally agreed upon in agriculture, that nothing must be done too late; and again, that everything must be done at its proper season; while there is a third precept which reminds us that opportunities lost can never be regained.

In the literary as well as military world, most powerful abilities will often be found concealed under a rustic garb.

When collapse is imminent, the little rodents flee.

Nothing is so unequal as equality.

The great business of man is to improve his mind, and govern his manners; all other projects and pursuits, whether in our power to compass or not, are only amusements.

The most valuable discoveries have found their origin in the most trivial accidents.

How many things… are looked upon as quite impossible until they have been actually effected?

The perverted ingenuity of man has given to water the power of intoxicating where wine is not procured. Western nations intoxicate themselves by moistened grain.

Nature makes us buy her presents at the price of so many sufferings that it is doubtful whether she deserves most the name of parent or stepmother.

Hope is the pillar that holds up the world. Hope is the dream of a waking man.

The enjoyments of this life are not equal to its evils.

I want them either intellectually stimulating or wonderfully corny; perfectly charming or hundred percent stinker.

Bill Clinton was relentless, eloquent and truly charming.

Almost anybody would rather be known for expert shoe-tying than for kicking the cat.” She always tells whiners how charming they are–bullies how brave–bad sports how good–sneaks how honest!

The more charming person is the person who admits the other person is more charming.

There is no shame like poor shame. It can make you warm and charming, bitter and resentful, all at once.

But I was very, very unhappy because my mother was very charming and generous, but to me, very dominating.

Ronald Reagan was this actor who was going to be president, and he was very charming. What he had was, he talked about America in ways that got people all caught up in it. He was creating this America – it could even be the mythical “America” – that we subscribe to.

The good news is that economists are intelligent, engaging and often charming folks. The bad news is their work is often of little use to investors.