What comfort there is in a cheerful spirit! how the heart leaps up to meet a sunshiny face, a merry tongue, an even temper, and a heart which either naturally, or, what is better, from conscientious principle, has learned to take all things on their bright side, believing that the Giver of life being all-perfect Love, the best offering we can make to Him is to enjoy to the full what He sends of good, and bear what He allows of evil!

never was there a thoroughly noble nature without some romance in it.

We have not to construct human nature afresh, but to take it as we find it, and make the best of it.

One only "right" we have to assert in common with mankind--and that is as much in our hands as theirs--is the right of having something to do.

When the ship is going down we trouble ourselves little enough about the style of the cabin furniture.

Let every one of us cultivate, in every word that issues from our mouth, absolute truth. I say cultivate, because to very few people - as may be noticed of most young children - does truth, this rigid, literal veracity, come by nature. To many, even who love it and prize it dearly in others, it comes only after the self-control, watchfulness, and bitter experience of years.

Nothing but a speck we seem In the waste of waters round, Floating, floating like a dream, Outward bound.