While the law [of competition] may be sometimes hard for the individual, it is best for the race, because it insures the survival of the fittest in every department. We accept and welcome, therefore, as conditions to which we must accommodate ourselves, great inequality of environment, the concentration of business, industrial and commercial, in the hands of a few, and the law of competition between these, as being not only beneficial, but essential for the future progress of the race.

All is well since all grows better

The 'morality of compromise' sounds contradictory. Compromise is usually a sign of weakness, or an admission of defeat. Strong men don't compromise, it is said, and principles should never be compromised.

Every act you have ever performed since the day you were born was performed because you wanted something.

To kill a man will be considered as disgusting [in the twentieth century] as we in this day consider it disgusting to eat one.

Do not look for approval except for the consciousness of doing your best.

A library outranks any other one thing a community can do to benefit its people. It is a never failing spring in the desert.