Leave glory to great folks. Ah, castles in the air cost a vast deal to keep up!

The imagination acquires by custom a certain involuntary, unconscious power of observation and comparison, correcting its own mistakes, and arriving at precision of judgment, just as the outward eye is disciplined to compare, adjust, estimate, measure, the objects reflected on the back of its retina.

We tell our triumphs to the crowds, but our own hearts are the sole confidants of our sorrows.

Nothing is so contagious as enthusiasm.

A reform is a correction of abuses; a revolution is a transfer of power.

Youth, with swift feet, walks onward in the way; the land of joy lies all before his eyes.

The man who succeeds above his fellows is the one who early in life, clearly discerns his object, and towards that object habitually directs his powers. Even genius itself is but fine observation strengthened by fixity of purpose. Every man who observes vigilantly and resolves steadfastly grows unconsciously into genius.