The world rests on principles.

It seems to me that the god that is commonly worshipped in civilized countries is not at all divine, though he bears a divine name, but is the overwhelming authority and respectability of mankind combined. Men reverence one another, not yet God.

There is a certain perfection in accident which we never consciously attain.

It is not enough that our life is an easy one. We must live on the stretch, retiring to our rest like soldiers on the eve of a battle, looking forward to the strenuous sortie of the morrow.

So long as a man is faithful to himself, everything is in his favor, government, society, the very sun, moon, and stars.

Behave so the aroma of your actions may enhance the general sweetness of the atmosphere.

Show me a man who feels bitterly toward John Brown, and let me hear what noble verse he can repeat. He'll be as dumb as if his lips were stone.