This soldiering thing sadly deadens that very good thing, humanity.

There is no law by which to determine the superiority of nations; hence the vanity of the claim, and the idleness of disputes about it. A people risen, run their race, and die either of themselves or at the hands of another, who, succeeding to their power, take possession of their place, and upon their monuments write new names; such is history.

The monuments of the nations are all protests against nothingness after death; so are statues and inscriptions; so is history.

The smallest bird cannot light upon the greatest tree without sending a shock to its most distant fiber.

Would you hurt a man keenest strike at his self-love?

The happiness of love is in action; its test is what one is willing to do for others.

To begin a reform, go not into the places of the great and rich; go rather to those whose cups of happiness are empty--to the poor and humble.