I cannot hold with those who wish to put down the insignificant chatter of the world.

But then the pastors and men of God can only be human,--cannot altogether be men of God; and so they have oppressed us, and burned us, and tortured us, and hence come to love palaces, and fine linen, and purple, and, alas, sometimes, mere luxury and idleness.

There are some achievements which are never done in the presence of those who hear of them. Catching salmon is one, and working all night is another.

There is no human bliss equal to twelve hours of work with only six hours in which to do it.

That I can read and be happy while I am reading, is a great blessing.

Romance is very pretty in novels, but the romance of a life is always a melancholy matter. They are most happy who have no story to tell.

Marvelous is the power which can be exercised, almost unconsciously, over a company, or an individual, or even upon a crowd by one person gifted with good temper, good digestion, good intellects, and good looks.