I found that they knew but little of the history of their race, and could be entertained by stories about their ancestors as readily as any way .

Books are the treasured wealth of the world and the fit inheritance of generations and nations. Books, the oldest and the best, stand naturally and rightfully on the shelves of every cottage. They have no cause of their own to plead, but while they enlighten and sustain the reader his common sense will not refuse them. Their authors are a natural and irresistible aristocracy in every society, and, more than kings or emperors, exert an influence on mankind.

Enthusiasm is a supernatural serenity.

It required some rudeness to disturb with our boat the mirror-like surface of the water, in which every twig and blade of grass was so faithfully reflected; too faithfully indeed for art to imitate, for only Nature may exaggerate herself.

Though the hen should sit all day, she could lay only one egg, and, besides, would not have picked up materials for another.

Our molting season, like that of the fouls, must be a crisis in our lives.

No doubt another may also think for me; but it is not therefore desirable that he should do so to the exclusion of my thinking for myself.