As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole animal by the contemplation of a single bone so the observer who has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents should be able to accurately state all the other ones both before and after.
The love of books is among the choicest gifts of the gods.
When you have eliminated the impossible whatever remains however improbable must be the truth.
A trusty comrade is always of use, and a chronicler still more so.
Depend upon it, there comes a time when for every addition of knowledge you forget something that you knew before. It is of the highest importance therefore not to have useless facts elbowing out the useful ones.