Experience bereaves us of our innocence; wisdom bereaves us of our ignorance. - Henry David Thoreau

Is not each withered leaf that I see in my walks something which I have traveled to find? —traveled, who can tell how far? What a fool he must be who thinks that his El Dorado is anywhere but where he lives!

The knowledge of an unlearned man is living and luxuriant like a forest, but covered with mosses and lichens and for the most part inaccessible and going to waste; the knowledge of the man of science is like timber collected in yards for public works, which still supports a green sprout here and there, but even this is liable to dry rot.

Absolutely speaking, the more money, the less virtue; for money comes between a man and his objects, and obtains them for him; it was certainly no great virtue to obtain it.