When we come down into the distant village, visible from the mountain-top, the nobler inhabitants with whom we peopled it have departed, and left only vermin in its desolate streets. It is the imagination of poets which puts those brave speeches into the mouths of their heroes.

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

When a man truly commits, the universe will conspire to assure his success.

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

We are double-edged blades, and every time we whet our virtue the return stroke straps our vice. Where is the skillful swordsman who can give clean wounds, and not rip up his work with the other edge?

You must converse much with the field and the woods if you would imbibe such health into your mind and spirit as you covet for your body

There is no rule more invariable than that we are paid for our suspicions by finding what we suspect.