The first step to improvement, whether mental, moral, or religious, is to know ourselves – our weakness, errors, deficiencies, and sins, that, by divine grace, we may overcome and turn from them all.
The secret of a good memory is attention, and attention to a subject depends upon our interest in it. We rarely forget that which has made a deep impression on our minds.
Some blame themselves to extort the praise of contradiction from others.
The most we can get out of life is its discipline for ourselves, and its usefulness for others.
If rich men would remember that shrouds have no pockets, they would, while living, share their wealth with their children, and give for the good of others, and so know the highest pleasure wealth can give.
Sincerity is not test of truth-no evidence of correctness of conduct. You may take poison sincerely believing it the needed medicine, but will it save your life?
He that is possessed with a prejudice is possessed with a devil.
Some so speak in exaggerations and superlatives that we need to make a large discount from their statements before we can come at their real meaning.
We never reach our ideals, whether of mental or moral improvement, but the thought of them shows us our deficiencies, and spurs us on to higher and better things.
To possess money is very well; it may be a valuable servant; to be possessed by it is to be possessed by the devil, and one of the meanest and worst kind of devils.
Anxiety is the poison of human life; the parent of many sins and of more miseries.
Superstitions are, for the most part, but the shadows of great truths.
Deviation from either truth or duty is a downward path.
True religion extends alike to the intellect and the heart. Intellect is in vain if it lead not to emotion, and emotion is vain if not enlightened by intellect; and both are vain if not guided by truth and leading to duty.
Right actions for the future are the best apologies for wrong ones in the past – the best evidence of regret for them that we can offer, or the world receive.
Words are both better and worse than thoughts, they express them, and add to them; they give them power for good or evil; they start them on an endless flight, for instruction and comfort and blessing, or for injury and sorrow and ruin.
Hell is truth seen too lateduty neglected in its season.
He that is possessed with a prejudice is possessed with a devil, and one of the worst kinds of devils, for it shuts out the truth, and often leads to ruinous error.
Conscience is merely our own judgment of the right or wrong of our actions, and so can never be a safe guide unless enlightened by the word of God.
High aims form high characters, and great objects bring out great minds.
Anecdotes are sometimes the best vehicles of truth, and if striking and appropriate are often more impressive and powerful than argument.