Despair and postponement are cowardice and defeat. Men were born to succeed, not to fail.

Men do not fail commonly for want of knowledge, but for want of prudence to give wisdom the preference.

Within the memory of many of my townsmen the road near which my house stands resounded with the laugh and gossip of inhabitants, and the woods which border it were notched and dotted here and there with their little gardens and dwellings, though it was then much more shut in by the forest than now.

Our life is frittered away by detail. An honest man has hardly need to count more than his ten fingers, or in extreme cases he may add his ten toes, and lump the rest. Simplicity, simplicity, simplicity!

I should consider it a greater success to interest one wise and earnest soul, than a million unwise and frivolous.

I sat at a table where were rich food and wine in abundance, and obsequious attendance, but sincerity and truth were not; and I went away hungry from the inhospitable board.

Men must speak English who can write Sanskrit; they must speak a modern language who write, perchance, an ancient and universal one.