Much of a man's character will be found betokened in his backbone. I would rather feel your spine than your skull, whoever you are. A thin joist of a spine never yet upheld a full and noble soul.

Is Ahab, Ahab? Is it I, God, or who, that lifts this arm? But if the great sun move not of himself; but is an errand-boy in heaven; nor one single star can revolve, but by some invisible power; how then can this one small heart beat; this one small brain think thoughts; unless God does that beating, does that thinking, does that living, and not I.

Are not half our lives spent in reproaches for foregone actions, of the true nature and consequences of which we were wholly ignorant at the time?

Surely a gentle sister is the second best gift to a man; and it is first in point of occurrence; for the wife comes after.

In armies, navies, cities, or families, in nature herself, nothing more relaxes good order than misery.

Meditation and water are wedded for ever.

You cannot spill a drop of American blood without spilling the blood of the whole world.... We are not a nation, so much as a world.