Pain is no evil, unless it conquers us.

Do what thou dost as if the earth were heaven, and thy last day the day of judgment.

He was one of those men who possess almost every gift, except the gift of the power to use them.

I am not aware that payment, or even favors, however gracious, bind any man's soul and conscience in questions of highest morality and highest importance.

[At the end of the story, its main character, Tom] is now a great man of science, and can plan railroads, and steam-engines, and electric telegraphs, and rifled guns, and so forth; and knows everything about everything, except why a hen's egg don't turn into a crocodile, and two or three other little things that no one will know till the coming of the Cocqcigrues.

Have thy tools ready. God will find thee work.

Give me something huge to fight, — and I should enjoy that — but why make me sweep the dust?