To reform a world, to reform a nation, no wise man will undertake and all but foolish men know, that the only solid, though a far slower reformation, is what each begins and perfects on himself.
To us also, through every star, through every blade of grass, is not God made visible if we will open our minds and our eyes.
The present is the living sum-total of the whole past.
The great law of culture: Let each become all that he was created capable of being.
The block of granite which was an obstacle in the path of the weak becomes a steppingstone in the path of the strong.
Reform is not pleasant, but grievous no person can reform themselves without suffering and hard work, how much less a nation.
What we become depends on what we read after all of the professors have finished with us. The greatest university of all is a collection of books.
For, if a good speaker, never so eloquent, does not see into the fact, and is not speaking the truth of that - is there a more horrid kind of object in creation?
Sarcasm I now see to be, in general, the language of the devil for which reason I have long since as good as renounced it.
Under all speech that is good for anything there lies a silence that is better, Silence is deep as Eternity speech is shallow as Time.
To reform a world, to reform a nation, no wise man will undertake; and all but foolish men know, that the only solid, though a far slower reformation, is what each begins and perfects on himself.
Nothing that was worthy in the past departs no truth or goodness realized by man ever dies, or can die.
If an eloquent speaker speak not the truth, is there a more horrid kind of object in creation?
All great peoples are conservative.
I don't pretend to understand the Universe - it's a great deal bigger than I am.
In books lies the soul of the whole past time.
A strong mind always hopes, and has always cause to hope.