“Nothing is small, in fact; any one who is subject to the profound and penetrating influence of nature knows this.”

“In fact one frequently seemed to gather all sorts of similar information about subjects one had less than profound interest in.”

“The function of prayer is not to influence God, but rather to change the nature of the one who prays.”

“This, however, is sure: nothing is really lost. Any influence for good, no matter how ephemeral, makes its mark: it helps to leaven the loaf of evil: it leaves a loophole, albeit a small one, for a future escape from bondage.”

“I have one word to say upon the subject of profound writers, who are grown very numerous of late; and I know very well the judicious world is resolved to list me in that number. I conceive therefore, as to the business of being profound, that it is with writers as with wells; a person with good eyes may see to the bottom of the deepest, provided any water be there; and often, when there is nothing in the world at the bottom, besides dryness and dirt, though it be but a yard and half under ground, it shall pass however for wondrous deep, upon no wiser a reason than because it is wondrous dark.”

“She...can talk brillantly upon any subject provided she knows nothing about it.”