The heights charm us, but the steps do not; with the mountain in our view we love to walk the plains.

Where confidence is wanting, the most beautiful flower in the garland of love is missing.

To act is easy, to think is hard; to act according to our thought is troublesome.

The useful may be trusted to further itself, for many produce it and no one can do without it; but the beautiful must be specially encouraged, for few can present it, while yet all have need of it.

The best benefit we derive from history is the enthusiasm it excites.

Everything is hard before it is easy.

We accept every person in the world as that for which he gives himself out, only he must give himself out for something. We can put up with the unpleasant more easily than we can endure the insignificant.