We often feel sad in the presence of music without words; and often more than that in the presence of music without music.

Plain question and plain answer make the shortest road out of most perplexities.

None of us can have as many virtues as the fountain-pen, or half its cussedness; but we can try.

The Mississippi River towns are comely, clean, well built, and pleasing to the eye, and cheering to the spirit. The Mississippi Valley is as reposeful as a dreamland, nothing worldly about it . . . nothing to hang a fret or a worry upon.

All say, ‘how hard it is that we have to die’ -- a strange complaint to come from the mouths of those who have had to live.

All schools, all colleges have two great functions: to confer, and to conceal valuable knowledge.

We are always more anxious to be distinguished for a talent which we do not possess, than to be praised for the fifteen which we do possess. Sometimes we are too close to the scene, to see clearly. We "know" ourselves so well that we cannot see how we are perceived by others. Our opinion of ourselves is only "one" opinion and it may not be the truth.