Starting a long way off the true point, and proceeding by loops and zigzags , we now and then arrive just where we ought to be.

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

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

No evil dooms us hopelessly except the evil we love, and desire to continue in, and make no effort to escape from.

You may try — but you can never imagine what it is to have a man's force of genius in you, and yet to suffer the slavery of being a girl.

Any coward can fight a battle when he's sure of winning; but give me the man who has the pluck to fight when he's sure of losing.

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!