Generally speaking, an author's style is a faithful copy of his mind. If you would write a lucid style, let there first be light in your own mind; and if you would write a grand style, you ought to have a grand character.

Why look for conspiracy when stupidity can explain so much

Those who have no hope for a future life are already dead for the present one.

It is belief in the Bible, the fruits of deep meditation, which has served me as the guide of my moral and literary life. I have found capital safely invested and richly productive of interest, although I have sometimes made but a bad use of it.

And I have again observed, my dear friend, in this trifling affair, that misunderstandings and neglect occasion more mischief in the world than even malice and wickedness. At all events, the two latter are of less frequent occurrence.

I have found among my papers a sheet . . . in which I call architecture frozen music.

Good children's literature appeals not only to the child in the adult, but to the adult in the child.