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So much of our lives is given over to the consideration of our imperfections that there is no time to improve our imaginary virtues. The truth is we only perfect our vices, and man is a worse creature when he dies than he was when he was born.

We are more tied to our faults than to our virtues.

Pure, holy simplicity confounds all the wisdom of this world and the wisdom of the flesh.

Prudence is but experience, which equal time, equally bestows on all men, in those things they equally apply themselves unto.

We men are easily prone to sins of thought. Therefore, He who has formed each heart individually, knowing that the impulse received from the intention constitutes the major element in sin, has ordained that purity in the ruling part of our soul be our primary concern.

Because impudence is a vice, it does not follow that modesty is a virtue; it is built upon shame, a passion in our nature, and may be either good or bad according to the actions performed from that motive.

We are personalities in the making, limited, and grappling with things too high for us. Obviously we, at very best, will make many mistakes, but these mistakes need not be sins.

It is the nature of the wise to resist pleasures, but the foolish to be a slave to them.

Though sages may pour out their wisdom's treasure, there is no sterner moralist than pleasure.

Our virtues and our failings are inseparable, like force and matter. When they separate, man is no more.