Cities force growth and make men talkative and entertaining, but they make them artificial. What possesses interest for us is thenatural of each, his constitutional excellence. This is forever a surprise, engaging and lovely; we cannot be satiated with knowing it, and about it; and it is this which the conversation with Nature cherishes and guards.

Every man is eloquent once in his life.

Sanity consists in not being subdued by your means. Fancy prices are paid for position, and for the culture of talent, but to thegrand interests, superficial success is of no account.

As men's prayers are a disease of the will, so are their creeds a disease of the intellect.

[on Thoreau:] For not a particle of respect had he to the opinions of any man or body of men, but homage solely to truth itself.

All ages of belief have been great; all of unbelief have been mean.

When we can't piece together the puzzle of our own lives, remember the best view of a puzzle is from above. Let Him help put you together.