There is none who does not lie hourly in the respect he pays to false appearance.

Christ was a sublime actor on the stage of the world. He knew what he was thinking of when he said, "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away." I draw near to him at such a time. Yet he taught mankind but imperfectly how to live; his thoughts were all directed toward another world. There is another kind of success than his. Even here we have a sort of living to get, and must buffet it somewhat longer. There are various tough problems yet to solve, and we must shift to live, betwixt spirit and matter, such a human life as we can.

I am wont to think that men are not so much the keepers of herds as herds are the keepers of men. The former are so much the freer.

Woe be to the generation that lets any higher faculty in its midst go unemployed.

A stereotyped but unconscious despair is concealed even under what are called the games and amusements of mankind.

Those undeserved joys which come uncalled and make us more pleased than grateful are they that sing.

Though my life is low, if my spirit looks upward habitually at an elevated angle, it is as if it were redeemed. When the desire to be better than we are is really sincere we are instantly elevated, and so far better already.