"Nothing astonishes men so much as common..." - Quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Personal rights, universally the same, demand a government framed on the ratio of the census: property demands a government framedon the ratio of owners and of owning.”

“The state of society is one in which the members have suffered amputation from the trunk, and strut about so many walking monsters, - a good finger, a neck, a stomach, an elbow, but never a man. Man is thus metamorphosed into a thing, into many things. The planter, who is Man sent out into the field to gather food, is seldom cheered by any idea of the true dignity of his ministry. He sees his bushel and his cart, and nothing beyond, and sinks into the farmer, instead of Man on the farm.”

“When I have attempted to join myself to others by services, it proved an intellectual trick,-no more. They eat your service like apples, and leave you out. But love them, and they feel you, and delight in you all the time.”

“Saying 'Gesundheit' doesn't really help the common cold - but its about as good as anything the doctors have come up with.”

“Anybody can have common sense, provided that they have no imagination.”

“We must leave our pets at home, when we go into the street, and meet men on broad grounds of good meaning and good sense.”

“If a man writes a book, let him set down only what he knows. I have guesses enough of my own.”

“Never seek illicit wealth.”

“Do not be surprised. I do not like writers and I cannot stand their lies. They speak so as not to listen to themselves speak. If they did listen, they would know that they are nothing and then they would no longer be able to speak.”