Even in social life, it is persistency which attracts confidence, more than talents and accomplishments.

Knowledge, like religion, must be experienced in order to be known.

Grit is the grain of character. It may generally be described as heroism materialized,--spirit and will thrust into heart, brain, and backbone, so as to form part of the physical substance of the man.

Irony is an insult conveyed in the form of a compliment.

Talent is full of thoughts, Genius is thought. Talent is a cistern, Genius a fountain.

We all originally came from the woods! it is hard to eradicate from any of us the old taste for the tattoo and the war-paint; and the moment that money gets into our pockets, it somehow or another breaks out in ornaments on our person, without always giving refinement to our manners.

There is a natural disposition with us to judge an author's personal character by the character of his works. We find it difficult to understand the common antithesis of a good writer and a bad man.