A powerful agent is the right word. Whenever we come upon one of those intensely right words in a book or newspaper the resulting effect is physical as well as spiritual, and electrically prompt.

Gratitude is a debt which usually goes on accumulating like blackmail; the more you pay, the more is exacted.

It is governed by minorities, seldom or never by majorities. It suppresses its feelings and its beliefs and follows the handful that makes the most noise. Sometimes the noisy handful is right, sometimes wrong, but no matter, the crowd follows it.

The gods offer no rewards for intellect. There was never one yet that showed any interest in it.

Comparison is the death of joy.

...many foolish persons, wanderers from other parts, have the vain fashion of graving their names and the obscure places whence they come, upon its stones, which is silly and marketh the doer for a fool.

Public Servant: Persons chosen by the people to distribute the graft.