... what a fatal thing in pictures, books, or human lives, is a lack of proportion.

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

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!

we are so scornful when we are young!

We never know through what Divine mysteries of compensation the great Father of the universe may be carrying out His sublime plan; but those three words, "God is love" ought to contain, to every doubting soul, the solution of all things.

absence ... smothers into decay a rootless fancy but often nourishes the least seed of a true affection into full-flowering love.

Keep what is worth keeping and with the breath of kindness blow the rest away.