It is a thorough process, this war with the wilderness - breaking nature, taming the soil. feeding it on oats. The civilized man regards the pine tree as his enemy. He will fell it and let in the light, grub it up and raise wheat or rye there. It is no better than a fungus to him.

I am never rich in money, and I am never meanly poor.

I confess that I have hitherto indulged very little in philanthropic enterprises.... While my townsmen and women are devoted in somany ways to the good of their fellows, I trust that one at least may be spared to other and less humane pursuits. You must have a genius for charity as well as for anything else. As for Doing-good, that is one of the professions which are full.

The setting sun is reflected from the windows of the alms-house as brightly as from the rich man's abode.

Nature is as well adapted to our weakness as to our strength.

Our sadness is not sad, but our cheap joys.

Man is the artificer of his own happiness.