The doctrine of heredity may seem to take out of our hands the conduct of our own lives, but it is the idea, not the fact, which is really terrible to us.

For what we have received from our ancestors is only a fraction of what we are, or may become.

The knowledge that drunkenness or insanity has been prevalent in a family may be the best safeguard against their recurrence in a future generation.

The parent will be most awake to the vices or diseases in his child of which he is most sensible within himself.

The whole of life may be directed to their prevention or cure.