The dull mind, once arriving at an inference that flatters the desire, is rarely able to retain the impression that the notion from which the inference started was purely problematic.

Imagination is a licensed trespasser: it has no fear of dogs, but may climb over walls and peep in at windows with impunity.

In spite of his practical ability, some of his experience had petrified into maxims and quotations.

We could never have loved the earth so well if we had no childhood in it if it were not the earth where the same flowers come up again every spring that we used to gather with our tiny fingers as we sat lisping to ourselves on the grass . . .

Children demand that their heroes should be fleckless, and easily believe them so .

To the receptive soul the river of life pauseth not, nor is diminished.

Her own misery filled her heart—there was no room in it for other people's sorrow.