The very cheapness of literature is making even wise people forget that if a book is worth reading, it is worth buying. No book is worth anything which is not worth much; nor is it serviceable, until it has been read, and re-read, and loved, and loved again; and marked, so that you can refer to the passages you want in it.

Every great man is always being helped by everybody, for his gift is to get good out of all things and all persons.

To know anything well involves a profound sensation of ignorance.

There is no music in a “rest” that I know of, but there's the making of music in it. And people are always missing that part of the life melody.

It is a good and safe rule to sojourn in every place as if you meant to spend your life there, never omitting an opportunity of doing a kindness, or speaking a true word, or making a friend.

The spirit needs several sorts of food of which knowledge is only one.

Your honesty is not to be based either on religion or policy. Both your religion and policy must be based on it. Your honesty must be based, as the sun is, in vacant heaven; poised, as the lights in the firmament, which have rule over the day and over the night.