“What we hope ever to do with ease, we must first learn to do with diligence.”

“Knowledge is of two kinds. We know a subject ourselves, or we know where we can find information upon it. When we enquire into any subject, the first thing we have to do is to know what books have treated of it. This leads us to look at catalogues, and at the backs of books in libraries.”

“If your determination is fixed, I do not counsel you to despair. Few things are impossible to diligence and skill. Great works are performed not by strength, but perseverance.”

“Nothing [...] will ever be attempted, if all possible objections must be first overcome.”

“We are inclined to believe those whom we do not know because they have never deceived us.”

“We never do anything consciously for the last time without sadness of heart.”

“That we must all die, we always knew; I wish I had remembered it sooner.”