The vainest woman is never thoroughly conscious of her beauty till she is loved by the man who sets her own passion vibrating in return.

When a workman knows the use of his tools, he can make a door as well as a window.

Failure after long perseverance is much grander than never to have a striving good enough to be called a failure.

How unspeakably the lengthening of memories in common endears our old friends!

But the effect of her being on those around her was incalculably diffusive: for the growing good of the world is partly dependent on unhistoric acts; and that things are not so ill with you and me as they might have been, is half owing to the number who lived faithfully a hidden life, and rest in unvisited tombs.

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

We cannot reform our forefathers.