American author (1820-1904)
Without death in the world, existence in it would soon become, through over-population, the most frightful of curses.
CHRISTIAN NESTELL BOVEE
Intuitions and Summaries of Thought
Evils are to be traced to their sources, and struck at there. Like Barbary pirates, they are to be destroyed through the suppression of the state that sends them forth.
CHRISTIAN NESTELL BOVEE
Intuitions and Summaries of Thought
God has created too few unmixed evils to warrant the belief that death is one of them. In all things else in nature, goodness so abounds that we are authorized to infer that it does not stop even at the grave. It is only that her footprints have become invisible.
CHRISTIAN NESTELL BOVEE
Intuitions and Summaries of Thought
Can that which is the greatest virtue in philosophy, Doubt (called "the father of inventions" by Galileo), be in religion what the priests term it, the greatest of sins?
CHRISTIAN NESTELL BOVEE
Intuitions and Summaries of Thought
Discretion is the salt, and fancy the sugar, of life: the one preserves, the other sweetens it.
CHRISTIAN NESTELL BOVEE
Intuitions and Summaries of Thought
It is rather a mark of vanity not to dress well. The sloven thinks that nature has done enough for him.
CHRISTIAN NESTELL BOVEE
Intuitions and Summaries of Thought
Singularity in dress argues eccentricity of character. A queer cut of the coat represents a crotchet in the brain.
CHRISTIAN NESTELL BOVEE
Intuitions and Summaries of Thought
I desire to go through life knowing as little of evil in it as possible. To this end, I sometimes avoid looking too closely into the nature of things, studying them only so far as they seem to be good, and abandoning interest in them as soon as their darker feature begin to appear. The good only deserves a hearty interest.
CHRISTIAN NESTELL BOVEE
Intuitions and Summaries of Thought
The rules of etiquette were established mostly by women, are chiefly for the benefit of women, and are mainly suited only to the nature of women; and a too punctilious observance of them by a man, goes to show that over-refinement has nearly unsexed him.
CHRISTIAN NESTELL BOVEE
Intuitions and Summaries of Thought
Men, like musical instruments, seem made to be played upon.
CHRISTIAN NESTELL BOVEE
Intuitions and Summaries of Thought
One of the greatest bores in life is a too knowing fellow, who sees through all delusions, and will never let you enjoy any of them, not even your favorite ones, no matter how agreeable they may be, but must be always waking you out of some delicious dream, only to tell you, "My dear sir, you are dreaming;" as if it were not both proper and natural to dream. He forgets that many things are pleasant only while the delusions which make them so last.
CHRISTIAN NESTELL BOVEE
Intuitions and Summaries of Thought
The perfection of dress lies in the union of three requisites: in its being comfortable, inexpensive, and in good taste. It should not be so far removed from the prevailing mode as to excite attention, nor yet so far within the fashion as to imply a weak submission to it.
CHRISTIAN NESTELL BOVEE
Intuitions and Summaries of Thought
Fame: A few words upon a tombstone, and the truth of those not to be depended on.
CHRISTIAN NESTELL BOVEE
Intuitions and Summaries of Thought
An illusion dissipated is an experience gained.
CHRISTIAN NESTELL BOVEE
Intuitions and Summaries of Thought
A peculiar work in any art must not be too hastily judged. New styles have to create new tastes.
CHRISTIAN NESTELL BOVEE
Intuitions and Summaries of Thought
We should be sure, when we rebuke a want of charity, to do it with charity.
CHRISTIAN NESTELL BOVEE
Intuitions and Summaries of Thought
A young lady can only look charming at so much per yard. A pretty miss in calico is a lovely woman in silk; and a charming girl in muslin is an angel in satin. At least she thinks so, and who would contradict a lady?
CHRISTIAN NESTELL BOVEE
Intuitions and Summaries of Thought
Fortune, like a coy mistress, loves to yield her favors, though she makes us wrest them from her.
CHRISTIAN NESTELL BOVEE
Intuitions and Summaries of Thought
Genius makes its observations in short hand; talent writes them out at length.
CHRISTIAN NESTELL BOVEE
Intuitions and Summaries of Thought
Some dangers are to be courted--courted and braved as a coy mistress is to be wooed, with all the more vigor as the day makes against us.
CHRISTIAN NESTELL BOVEE
Intuitions and Summaries of Thought