A man without ambition is like a beautiful worm - it can creep, but it cannot fly.

Many men want wealth,--not a competence alone, but a live-story competence. Everything subserves this; and religion they would like as a sort of lightning-rod to their houses, to ward off by and by the bolts of Divine wrath.

That is true culture which helps us to work for the social betterment of all.

Undoubtedly we render our consciences callous by evil indulgences; but we cannot entirely subdue that still, small voice.

There are joys which long to be ours. God sends ten thousands truths, which come about us like birds seeking inlet; but we are shut up to them, and so they bring us nothing, but sit and sing awhile upon the roof, and then fly away.

A mother is as different from anything else that God ever thought of, as can possibly be. She is a distinct and individual creation.

Children are the hands by which we take hold of heaven. By these tendrils we clasp it and climb thitherward. And why do we think that we are separated from them? We never half knew them, nor in this world could.