Poetry and imagination begin life. A child will fall on its knees on the gravel walk at the sight of a pink hawthorn in full flower, when it is by itself, to praise God for it.

Statistics is the most important science in the whole world: for upon it depends the practical application of every other science and of every art: the one science essential to all political and social administration, all education, all organization based on experience, for it only gives results of our experience.

Rather, ten times, die in the surf, heralding the way to a new world, than stand idly on the shore.

No man, not even a doctor, ever gives any other definition of what a nurse should be than this-'devoted and obedient.' This definition would do just as well for a porter. It might even do for a horse. It would not do for a policeman.

For it may safely be said, not that the habit of ready and correct observation will by itself make us useful nurses, but that without it we shall be useless with all our devotion.

Nature alone cures. ... what nursing has to do ... is to put the patient in the best condition for nature to act upon him.

The 'kingdom of heaven is within,' indeed, but we must also create one without, because we are intended to act upon our circumstances.