Every human action gains in honor, in grace, in all true magnificence, by its regard to things that are to come. It is the far sight, the quiet and confident patience, that, above all other attributes, separate man from man, and near him to his Maker; and there is no action nor art, whose majesty we may not measure by this test.

The root of almost every schism and heresy from which the Christian Church has suffered, has been because of the effort of men to earn, rather than receive their salvation; and the reason preaching is so commonly ineffective is, that it often calls on people to work for God rather than letting God work through them.

Men were not intended to work with the accuracy of tools, to be precise and perfect in all their actions.

Cheerfulness is as natural to the heart of a man in strong health as color to his cheek; and wherever there is habitual gloom there must be either bad air, unwholesome food, improperly severe labor, or erring habits of life.

Of all the pulpits from which human voice is ever sent forth, there is none from which it reaches so far as from the grave.

Commerce is the agency by which the power of choice is obtained.

Architecture concerns itself only with those characters of an edifice which are above and beyond its common use.