"A man who has never looked on Niagra has but a faint idea of a cataract; and he who has not read Barère's Memoirs may be said not to know what it is to lie."

"It is thought by many, and said by some, that this republic has already seen its best days; that the historian may now write the story of its decline and fall. Two classes of men are just now especial…"

"There is little to be said of seniority. It is evident that when men grow older they acquire experience, unless they are completely idle, stupid, or too obstinate to learn anything. But there are many…"

"It is necessary to show that there is nothing so little known , nothing more difficult to practice, or nothing more useful and universal."

"I had a rudimentary knowledge of dancing and had learned a bit of tap at dancing school, but it was mostly a case of picking it up as one went along."