Quotes

There were times when I could not afford to sacrifice the bloom of the present moment to any work, whether of the head or hands.

It is easy in the world to live after the world's opinion; it is easy in solitude to live after our own; but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude.

To yield readily--easily--to the persuasion of a friend is no merit with you.

I learned, from the views of social life which it developed, to admire their virtues and to deprecate the vices of mankind.

You would know in words that which you have always known in thought.

They throw their shadows before them who carry their lantern on their back.

The way lies before us, we must turn to the right or left; and he who will pass life away in bounding from one pleasure to another, must not complain if he neither acquires wisdom nor respectability of character.

And to me it is one of the most odious things in a girl’s life, that there must always be some supposition of falling in love coming between her and any man who is kind to her, and to whom she is grateful.

We call this hill the Delectable Mountain, for we can look far away and see the country where we hope to live some time.

We would sit together of an evening and listen to the inner melodies of the spirit, which one hears only in leisure moments when the words of some loved poet touch a deep, sweet chord in the soul that until then had been silent.

I have no accurate knowledge of my age, never having seen any authentic record containing it.

A man cannot be too careful in the choice of his enemies.

Do not ever conceive anything impossible to man, which by thee cannot, or not without much difficulty be effected; but whatsoever in general thou canst Conceive possible and proper unto any man, think that very possible unto thee also.

But we have reason within us; and it directs us, even with these hazards, to stand by our friend and our country.

The course and nature of things is such that What was in front is now behind; What warmed anon we freezing find.

We should be as good as the worthies of antiquity, but partly by first knowing how good they were.

A man should learn to detect and watch that gleam of light which flashes across his mind from within, more than the luster of the firmament of bards and sages.

The power of doing anything with quickness is always much prized by the possessor, and often without any attention to the imperfection of the performance.