In some way the secret vice exhales its poison; and the evil passion, however cunningly masked, stains through to the surface.

Mercy. That is the gospel. The whole of it in one word.

Munificent nature follows the methods of the divine and true, and rounds all things to her perfect law. While nations are convulsed with blood and violence, how quietly the grass grows.

The highest genius never flowers in satire, but culminates in sympathy with that which is best in human nature, and appeals to it.

A life is black, whiten it as you will.

Glorify a lie, legalize a lie, arm and equip a lie, consecrate a lie with solemn forms and awful penalties, and after all it is nothing but a lie. It rots a land and corrupts a people like any other lie, and by and by the white light of God's truth shines clear through it, and shows it to be a lie.

The city reveals the moral ends of being, and sets the awful problem of life. The country soothes us, refreshes us, lifts us up with religious suggestion.