It was not meant that the soul should cultivate the earth, but that the earth should educate and maintain the soul.

... the Power who gave a power, by its mere existence, signifies that it must be brought out towards perfection.

Not one man, in the million, shall I say? no, not in the hundred million, can rise above the belief that woman was made for man.

Wine is earth's answer to the sun.

I now know all the people worth knowing in America, and I find no intellect comparable to my own.

Life is richly worth living, with its continual revelations of mighty woe, yet infinite hope; and I take it to my breast.

It does not follow because many books are written by persons born in America that there exists an American literature. Books which imitate or represent the thoughts and life of Europe do not constitute an American literature. Before such can exist, an original idea must animate this nation and fresh currents of life must call into life fresh thoughts along the shore.