In old days there were angels who came and took men by the hand and led them away from the city of destruction. We see no white-winged angels now. But yet men are led away from threatening destruction: a hand is put into theirs, which leads them forth gently towards a calm and bright land, so that they look no more backward; and the hand may be a little child's.

Joy and sorrow are both my perpetual companions, but the joy is called Past and the sorrow Present.

Man cannot choose his duties.

I think I should have no other mortal wants, if I could always have plenty of music.

O may I join the choir invisible of those immortal dead who live again in minds made better by their presence; live in pulses stirred to generosity, in deeds of daring rectitude, in scorn for miserable aims that end with self, in thoughts sublime that pierce the night like stars, and with their mild persistence urge men's search to vaster issues.

Knowledge slowly builds up what Ignorance in an hour pulls down.

She was no longer struggling against the perception of facts, but adjusting herself to their clearest perception.