Nations do not think, they only feel. They get their feelings at second hand through their temperaments, not their brains. A nation can be brought -- by force of circumstances, not argument -- to reconcile itself to any kind of government or religion that can be devised; in time it will fit itself to the required conditions; later it will prefer them and will fiercely fight for them.

Never be haughty to the humble, never be humble to the haughty.

To go abroad has something of the same sense that death brings. I am no longer of ye-what ye say of me is now of no consequence.

Thousands of geniuses live and die undiscovered - either by themselves or by others.

I felt so lonesome I most wished I was dead. The stars were shining, and the leaves rustled in the woods ever so mournful; and I heard an owl, away off, who-whooing about somebody that was dead, and a whippowill and a dog crying about somebody that was going to die.

Good friends, good books and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life.

Circumstances make man, not man circumstances.