We have reason to be grateful for celestial phenomena, for they chiefly answer to the ideal in man.

In my short experience of human life, the outward obstacles, if there were any such, have not been living men, but the institutions of the dead.

A man may esteem himself happy when that which is his food is also his medicine.

It is better to have your head in the clouds, and know where you are... than to breathe the clearer atmosphere below them, and think that you are in paradise.

The Oriental philosophy approaches easily loftier themes than the modern aspires to; and no wonder if it sometimes prattle about them. It only assigns their due rank respectively to Action and Contemplation, or rather does full justice to the latter. Western philosophers have not conceived of the significance of Contemplation in their sense.

It would be glorious to see mankind at leisure for once. It is nothing but work, work, work.

These men, in teaching us how to die, have at the same time taught us how to live. If this man's acts and words do not create a revival, it will be the severest possible satire on the acts and words that do. It is the best news that America has ever heard.... How many a man who was lately contemplating suicide has now something to live for!