It [is of] some advantage to live a primitive and frontier life, though in the midst of an outward civilization, if only to learn what are the gross necessities of life.

To act collectively is according to the spirit of our institutions.

Under the one word "house" are included the schoolhouse, the almshouse, the jail, the tavern, the dwellinghouse; and the meanest shed or cave in which men live contains elements of all these. But nowhere on the earth stands the entire and perfect house.

The monster is never just there where we think he is. What is truly monstrous is our cowardice and sloth.

That government is best which governs the least, because its people discipline themselves.

Somehow strangely the vice of men gets well represented and protected but their virtue has none to plead its cause - nor any charter of immunities and rights.

If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them.