You have first an instinct, then an opinion, then a knowledge, as the plant has root, bud, and fruit.

Every man has his own courage, and is betrayed because he seeks in himself the courage of other persons.

The end of the human race will be that it will eventually die of civilization.

Although this garrulity of advising is born with us, I confess that life is rather a subject of wonder, than of didactics. So muchfate, so much irresistible dictation from temperament and unknown inspiration enter into it, that we doubt we can say anything out of our own experience whereby to help each other.

Why need I volumes, if one word suffice?

I am thankful for small mercies. I compared notes with one of my friends who expect everything of the universe, and is disappointed when anything is less than the best, and I found that I begin at the other extreme, expecting nothing, and am always full of thanks for moderate good. . . . If we will take the good we find, . . . we shall have heaping measures. . . .

Each of us sees in others what we carry in our own hearts.