To the dim and bewildered vision of humanity, God's care is more evident in some instances than in others; and upon such instances men seize, and call them providences. It is well that they can; but it would be gloriously better if they could believe that the whole matter is one grand providence.

Ambition is but the evil shadow of aspiration.

To try too hard to make people good is one way to make them worse. The only way to make them good is to be good, remembering well the beam and the mote.

I tell you, there are more worlds, and more doors to them, than you will think of in many years!

One thing is clear to me, that no indulgence of passion destroys the spiritual nature so much as respectable selfishness.

A beast does not know that he is a beast, and the nearer a man gets to being a beast, the less he knows it.

Many a life has been injured by the constant expectation of death. It is life we have to do with, not death. The best preparation for the night is to work diligently while the day lasts. The best preparation for death is life.