"Nothing can contribute more to peace of soul than the lack of any opinion whatever."

"The noble simplicity in the works of nature only too often originates in the noble shortsightedness of him who observes it."

"Prejudices are so to speak the mechanical instincts of men: through their prejudices they do without any effort many things they would find too difficult to think through to the point of resolving to do them."

"Much can be inferred about a man from his mistress: in her one beholds his weaknesses and his dreams."

"The fairest thing in nature, a flower, still has its roots in earth and manure."

"He who reads widely and ponders deeply builds an unshakeable inner citadel. Such is the immutable nature of understanding — an essential principle for the reflective life."

"The study of Nature is intercourse with the Highest Mind. You should never trifle with Nature."

"Men of genius are often dull and inert in society as the blazing meteor, when it descends to earth, is only a stone."