The less a man thinks or knows about his virtues, the better we like him.

The spirit of our American radicalism is destructive and aimless; it is not loving; it has no ulterior and divine ends; but is destructive only out of hatred and selfishness.

The people fancy they hate poetry, and they are all poets and mystics.

Sooner or later that which is now life shall be poetry, and every fair and manly trait shall add a richer strain to the song.

Before a leaf-bud has burst, its whole life acts; in the full-blown flower there is no more; in the leafless root there is no less.

As men get on in life, they acquire a love for sincerity, and somewhat less solicitude to be lulled or amused. In the progress ofthe character, there is an increasing faith in the moral sentiment, and a decreasing faith in propositions.

When it comes to divide an estate, the politest men quarrel.