Liberty is the soul's right to breathe and, when it cannot take a long breath, laws are girdled too tight.

Sorrows are gardeners: they plant flowers along waste places, and teach vines to cover barren heaps.

All true religion must stand on true morality.

You are not called to be a canary in a cage. You are called to be an eagle, and to fly sun to sun, over continents.

God washes the eyes by tears until they can behold the invisible land where tears shall come no more. O love! O affliction! ye are the guides that show us the way through the great airy space where our loved ones walked; and, as hounds easily follow the scent before the dew be risen, so God teaches us, while yet our sorrow is wet, to follow on and find our dear ones in heaven.

There are sorrows that are not painful, but are of the nature of some acids, and give piquancy and flavor to life.

You may say, "I wish to send this ball so as to kill the lion crouching yonder, ready to spring upon me. My wishes are all right, and I hope Providence will direct the ball." Providence won't. You must do it; and if you do not, you are a dead man.