When things are taking their ordinary course, it is hard to remember what matters.

Rejoice with those who rejoice." I have found that difficult too often. I was much better at weeping with those who weep.

When we accept dismissive judgments of our community we stop having generous hope for it. We cease to be capable of serving its best interests.

The mind has a complex life that can seem quite autonomous - dreams, obsessions, unwilled memory are all instances of this.

You never know when you might be seeing someone for the last time.

In eternity this world will be like Troy, I believe, and all that has passed here will be the epic of the universe, the ballad they sing in the streets.

People talk about how wonderful the world seems to children, and that's true enough. But children think they will grow into it and understand it, and I know very well that I will not, and would not if I had a dozen lives.