Truly there is a tide in the affairs of men; but there is no gulf-stream setting forever in one direction.

Sentiment is intellectualized emotion; emotion precipitated, as it were, in pretty crystals by the fancy.

God's livery is a very plain one; but its wearers have good reason to be content. If it have not so much gold-lace about it as Satan's, it keeps out foul weather better, and is besides a great deal cheaper.

To genius life never grows commonplace.

There is a law of neutralization of forces, which hinders bodies from sinking beyond a certain depth in the sea; but in the ocean of baseness, the deeper we get, the easier the sinking.

Good luck is the willing handmaid of upright, energetic character, and conscientious observance of duty.

All free governments, whatever their name, are in reality governments by public opinion ; and it is on the quality of this public opinion that their prosperity depends. It is, therefore, their first duty to purify the element from which they draw the breath of life.