Extremely foolish advice is likely to be uttered by those who are looking at the laboring vessel from the land.

Remember that in giving any reason at all for refusing, you lay some foundation for a future request.

Do not shun this maxim because it is common-place. On the contrary, take the closest heed of what observant men, who would probably like to show originality, are yet constrained to repeat. Therein lies the marrow of the wisdom of the world.

It has always appeared to me, that there is so much to be done in this world, that all self-inflicted suffering which cannot be turned to good account for others, is a loss - a loss, if you may so express it, to the spiritual world.

The most common-place people become highly imaginative when they are in a passion. Whole dramas of insult, injury, and wrong pass before their minds,--efforts of creative genius, for there is sometimes not a fact to go upon.

There is hardly a more common error than that of taking the man who has one talent, for a genius.

It is a weak thing to tell half your story, and then ask your friend's advice-a still weaker thing to take it.