Our community belongs to us and whether it is mean or majestic, whether arrayed in glory or covered in shame, we cannot but share its character and destiny.

Fugitive slaves were rare then, and as a fugitive slave lecturer, I had the advantage of being the first one out.

Fortune may crowd a man's life with fortunate circumstances and happy opportunities, but they will, as we all know, avail him nothing unless he makes a wise and vigorous use of them.

No man can put a chain about the ankle of his fellow man without at last finding the other end fastened about his own neck.

The simplest truths often meet the sternest resistance and are slowest in getting general acceptance.

It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.

[...] endless action and reaction. Those beautifully rounded pebbles which you gather on the sand and which you hold in your hand and marvel at their exceeding smoothness, were chiseled into their varies and graceful forms by the ceaseless action of countless waves. Nature is herself a great worker and never tolerates, without certain rebuke, any contradiction to her wise example. Inaction is followed by stagnation. Stagnation is followed by pestilence and pestilence is followed by death.