An infinitude of tenderness is the chief gift and inheritance of all truly great men.

There is material enough in a single flower for the ornament of a score of cathedrals.

All that is good in art is the expression of one soul talking to another, and is precious according to the greatness of the soul that utters it.

God shows us in Himself, strange as it may seem, not only authoritative perfection, but even the perfection of obedience--an obedience to His own laws; and in the cumbrous movement of those unwieldiest of his creatures we are reminded, even in His divine essence, of that attribute of uprightness in the human creature "that sweareth to his own hurt and changeth not.

God has lent us the earth for our life; it is a great entail. It belongs as much to those who are to come after us, and whose names are already written in the book of creation, as to us; and we have no right, by anything that we do or neglect, to involve them in unnecessary penalties, or deprive them of benefits which it was in our power to bequeath.

In the range of inorganic nature. I doubt if any object can be found more perfectly beautiful than a fresh, deep snowdrift, seen under warm light.

You may either win your peace or buy it: win it, by resistance to evil; buy it, by compromise with evil.