But indefinite visions of ambition are weak against the ease of doing what is habitual or beguilingly agreeable; and we all know the difficulty of carrying out a resolve when we secretly long that it may turn out to be unnecessary. In such states of mind the most incredulous person has a private leaning towards miracle: impossible to conceive how our wish could be fulfilled, still - very wonderful things have happened!

He who rules must fully humor as much as he commands.

People are almost always better than their neighbors think they are.

Resolve will melt no rocks. But it can scale them.

Our words have wings, but fly not where we would.

He was of an impressible nature, and lived a great deal in other people's opinions and feelings concerning himself.

Nature repairs her ravages,--repairs them with her sunshine and with human labor.