My father taught in the wise way which unfolds what lies in the child

Right Jo better be happy old maids than unhappy wives or unmaidenly girls running about to find husbands.

Her beauty satisfied [his] artistic eye, her peculiarities piqued his curiosity, her vivacity lightened his ennui, and her character interested him by the unconscious hints it gave of power, pride and passion. So entirely natural and unconventional was she that he soon found himself on a familiar footing, asking all manner of unusual questions, and receiving rather piquant replies.

The scar will remain, but it is better for a man to lose both arms than his soul; and these hard years, instead of being lost, may be made the most precious of your lives, if they teach you to rule yourselves.

politics were as bad as mathematics, and that the mission of politicians seemed to be calling each other names

Work is and always has been my salvation and I thank the Lord for it.

Good, old-fashioned ways keep hearts sweet, heads sane, hands busy.