My imagination would never have served me as it has, but for the habit of commonplace, humble, patient, daily, toiling, drudging attention

Notwithstanding his very liberal laudation of himself, however, the Major was selfish. It may be doubted whether there ever was a more entirely selfish person at heart; or at stomach is perhaps a better expression, seeing that he was more decidedly endowed with that latter organ than with the former.

Really, for a man who had been out of practice for so many years it was a splendid laugh!

A dangerous quality, if real; and a not less dangerous one, if feigned.

Thus violent deeds live after men upon the earth, and traces of war and bloodshed will survive in mournful shapes long after those who worked the desolation are but atoms of earth themselves.

I found every breath of air, and every scent, and every flower and leaf and blade of grass and every passing cloud, and everything in nature, more beautiful and wonderful to me than I had ever found it yet. This was my first gain from my illness. How little I had lost, when the wide world was so full of delight for me.

Our affections, however laudable, in this transitory world, should never master us; we should guide them, guide them.