No one who has ever known what it is to lose faith in a fellow-man whom he has profoundly loved and reverenced, will lightly say that the shock can leave the faith in the Invisible Goodness unshaken. With the sinking of high human trust, the dignity of life sinks too; we cease to believe in our own better self, since that also is part of the common nature which is degraded in our thought; and all the finer impulses of the soul are dulled.

When what is good comes of age, and is likely to live, there is reason for rejoicing.

I trust you as holy men trust God; you could do nought that was not pure and loving, though the deed might pierce me unto death.

But with regard to critical occasions, it often happens that all moments seem comfortably remote until the last.

We learn words by rote, but not their meaning; that must be paid for with our life-blood, and printed in the subtle fibres of our nerves.

To act with doubleness towards a man whose own conduct was double, was so near an approach to virtue that it deserved to be called by no meaner name than diplomacy.

It's easy finding reasons why other folks should be patient.