Patience is only one faculty; earnestness the devotion of all the faculties. Earnestness is the cause of patience; it gives endurance, overcomes pain, strengthens weakness, braves dangers, sustains hope, makes light of difficulties, and lessens the sense of weariness in overcoming them.
Hunting is a relic of the barbarism that once thirsted for human blood, but is now content with the blood of animals.
Vanity in an old man is charming. It is a proof of an open, nature. Eighty winters have not frozen him up, or taught him concealments. In a young person it is simply allowable; we do not expect him to be above it.
Constant companionship is not enjoyable, any more than constant eating. We sit too long at the table of friendship, when we outsit our appetites for each other’s thoughts.
Melancholy sees the worst of things, things as they may be, and not as they are. It looks upon a beautiful face, and sees but a grinning skull.
It is in vain that he seeks dominion abroad, who is not kingly at home.
There are none so low but they have their triumphs. Small successes suffice for small souls.
Sorrow is never more sorrowful than when it jests at its own misery.
Nothing is so fragile as thought in its infancy; an interruption breaks it: nothing is so powerful, even to overturning empires, when it reaches its maturity.
To be without sympathy is to be alone in the world – without friends or country, home or kindred.
Too much society makes a man frivolous; too little, a savage.
There would not be so much harm in the giddy following the fashions, if somehow the wise could always set them.
Silence, when nothing need be said, is the eloquence of discretion.
In secluding himself too much from society, an author is in danger of losing that intimate acquaintance with life which is the only sure foundation of power in a writer.
The first step toward greatness is to be honest, says the proverb; but the proverb fails to state the case strong enough. Honesty is not only “the first step toward greatness,” it is greatness itself.
It is the life of democracy to favor equality.
He has but one great fear that fears to do wrong.
There are ceremonious bows that repel one like a cudgel.
Cheerfulness is an offshoot of goodness and of wisdom.
It is seldom that we find out how great are our resources until we are thrown upon them.