My son, a perfect little boy of five years and three months, had ended his earthly life. You can never sympathize with me; you can never know how much of me such a young child can take away. A few weeks ago I accounted myself a very rich man, and now the poorest of all.

A man of thought must feel the thought that is parent of the universe: that the masses of nature do undulate and flow.

Genius always finds itself a century too early.

When a dog is chasing after you, whistle for him.

We walk alone in the world. Friends, such as we desire, are dreams and fables.

I am so much a Unitarian as this: that I believe the human mind can admit but one God, and that every effort to pay religious homage to more than one being goes to take away all right ideas.

The good husband finds method as efficient in the packing of fire-wood in a shed, or in the harvesting of fruits in the cellar, as in Peninsular campaigns or the files of the Department of State.