Outwardly, indeed, they may often sneer at it; but outward signs in such matters are very deceiving.

Much of the bitter and arrogant certitude to be found about us in the expression of unbelief, is really like the bitterness of a woman against her lover, which has not been the cause of her resolving to leave him, but which has been caused by his having left her.

In estimating what is really the state of feeling about us, we must not look only at the surface.

We must remember that deep feeling often expresses itself by contradicting itself; also that it often exists where it is not expressed at all, or where it betrays rather than expresses itself; and, further, that during the hours of common intercourse, it tends, for the time being, to disappear.
People cannot be always exclaiming in drawing-rooms that they have lost their Lord; and the fact may be temporarily forgotten because they have lost their portmanteau.

All serious reflections are like reflections in water--a pebble will disturb them, and make a dull pond sparkle.