We are double-edged blades, and every time we whet our virtue the return stroke strops our vice.

Staying in the house breeds a sort of insanity always. Every house is, in this sense, a hospital.

We rarely meet a man who can tell us any news which he has not read in a newspaper, or been told by his neighbor; and, for the most part, the only difference between us and our fellow is that he has seen the newspaper, or been out to tea, and we have not.

The boy gathers materials for a temple, and then when he is thirty, concludes to build a woodshed.

I saw deep in the eyes of the animals the human soul look out upon me. I saw where it was born deep down under feathers and fur, or condemned for a while to roam four-footed among the brambles,I caught the clinging mute glance of the prisoner and swore that I would be faithful.

What is the singing of birds, or any natural sound, compared with the voice of one we love.

I perceive that we inhabitants of New England live this mean life that we do because our vision does not penetrate the surface ofthings. We think that that is which appears to be.