A man's minor actions and arrangements ought to be free, flexible, creative; the things that should be unchangeable are his principles, his ideals. But with us the reverse is true; our views change constantly; but our lunch does not change. Now, I should like men to have strong and rooted conceptions, but as for their lunch, let them have it sometimes in the garden, sometimes in bed, sometimes on the roof, sometimes in the top of a tree. Let them argue from the same first principles, but let them do it in a bed, or a boat, or a balloon.

What is the good of telling a community that it has every liberty except the liberty to make laws? The liberty to make laws is what constitutes a free people.

Life is indeed terribly complicated—to a man who has lost his principles.

Americans are a very backward people, with all the real virtues of a backward people; the patriarchal simplicity and human dignity of a democracy, and a respect for labor uncorrupted by cynicism.

With all that we hear of American hustle and hurry, it is rather strange that Americans seem to like to linger on longer words.

The one created thing which we cannot look at is the one thing in the light of which we look at everything.

Faith is always at a disadvantage; it is a perpetually defeated thing which survives all conquerors.