If you think you can temper yourself into manliness by sitting here over your books, it is the very silliest fancy that ever tempted a young man to his ruin. You cannot dream yourself into a character; you must hammer and forge yourself one.

The best that we can do for one another is to exchange our thoughts freely; and that, after all, is about all.

The essence of true nobility is neglect of self. Let the thought of self pass in, and the beauty of a great action is gone, like the bloom from a soiled flower.

Experience teaches slowly, and at the cost of mistakes.

Those who seek for something more than happiness in this world must not complain if happiness is not their portion.

Nature is less partial than she appears, and all situations in life have their compensations along with them.

The essence of greatness is neglect of the self.