A family is a little kingdom, torn with factions and exposed to revolutions. The habit of looking on the bright side of every event is worth more than a thousand pounds a year. A desire of knowledge is the natural feeling of mankind; and every human being whose mind is not debauched will be willing to give all that he has to get knowledge. Adversity has ever been considered the state in which a man most easily becomes acquainted with himself. Few things are impossible to diligence and skill. It is better to suffer wrong than to do it, and happier to be sometimes cheated than not to trust. Our aspirations are our possibilities. It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than open one's mouth and remove all doubt. What is written without effort is in general read without pleasure. It is a most mortifying reflection for a man to consider what he has done, compared to what he might have done. | 
