The offing was barred by a black bank of clouds, and the tranquil water-way leading to the uttermost ends of the earth flowed somber under an overcast sky--seemed to lead into the heart of an immense darkness.

I sit down religiously every morning, I sit down for eight hours every day - and the sitting down is all.

The discovery of America was the occasion of the greatest outburst of cruelty and reckless greed known in history.

The conquest of the earth, which mostly means the taking it away from those who have a different complexion or slightly flatter noses than ourselves, is not a pretty thing when you look into it too much.

I couldn't have felt more of lonely desolation somehow, had I been robbed of a belief or had missed my destiny in life.

Happiness, happiness ... the flavor is with you-with you alone, and you can make it as intoxicating as you please.

Action is consolatory. It is the enemy of thought and the friend of flattering illusions.