There is only one thing better than tradition and that is the original and eternal life out of which all tradition takes its rise.

The true historical genius, to our thinking, is that which can see the nobler meaning of events that are near him, as the true poet is he who detects the divine in the casual; and we somewhat suspect the depth of his insight into the past who cannot recognize the godlike of to-day under that disguise in which it always visits us.

I have always been of the mind that in a democracy manners are the only effective weapons against the bowie-knife.

A ginooine statesman should be on his guard, if he must hev beliefs, not to b'lieve 'em too hard.

I love her with a love as still As a broad river's peaceful might, Which by high tower and lowly mill, Goes wandering at its own will, And yet does ever flow aright.

Metaphor is no argument, though it be sometimes the gunpowder to drive one home, and imbed it in the memory.

The first lesson of life is to burn our own smoke; that is, not to inflict on outsiders our personal sorrows and petty morbidness, not to keep thinking of ourselves as exceptional cases.