If a plant cannot live according to its nature, it dies; and so a man.

The young pines springing up in the corn-fields from year to year are to me a refreshing fact.

How novel and original must be each new mans view of the universe - for though the world is so old - and so many books have been written - each object appears wholly undescribed to our experience - each field of thought wholly unexplored - the whole world is an America - a New World.

Every morning was a cheerful invitation to make my life of equal simplicity, and I may say innocence, with Nature herself.

Though I do not believe that a plant will spring up where no seed has been, I have great faith in a seed. Convince me that you have a seed there, and I am prepared to expect wonders.

A fortified town is like a man cased in the heavy armor of antiquity, with a horse-load of broadswords and small arms slung to him, endeavoring to go about his business.

An efficient and valuable man does what he can, whether the community pay him for it or not.