I at least have so much to do in unraveling certain human lots, and seeing how they were woven and interwoven, that all the light I can command must be concentrated on this particular web, and not dispersed over that tempting range of relevancies called the universe.

... we all know the wag's definition of a philanthropist: a man whose charity increases directly as the square of the distance.

There is a sort of subjection which is the peculiar heritage of largeness and of love; and strength is often only another name for willing bondage to irremediable weakness.

The important work of moving the world forward does not wait to be done by perfect men.

Our impartiality is kept for abstract merit and demerit, which none of us ever saw.

If I have read religious history aright, faith, hope, and charity have not always been found in a direct ratio with a sensibility to the three concords; and it is possible, thank heaven! to have very erroneous theories and very sublime feelings.

Harold, like the rest of us, had many impressions which saved him the trouble of distinct ideas.