Who could believe in the prophecies ... that the world would end this summer, while one milkweed with faith matured its seeds.

The highest that we can attain to is not Knowledge, but Sympathy with Intelligence.

It is not desirable to cultivate a respect for the law, so much as for the right.

Methinks my own soul must be a bright invisible green.

I had three chairs in my house; one for solitude, two for friendship, three for society.

We could not help being struck by the seeming, though innocent, indifference of Nature to these men's necessities, while elsewhereshe was equally serving others. Like a true benefactress, the secret of her service is unchangeableness. Thus is the busiest merchant, though within sight of his Lowell, put to pilgrim's shifts, and soon comes to staff and scrip and scallop-shell.

Improve every opportunity to be melancholy.