Shall I tell you the secret of the true scholar? It is this: every man I meet is my master in some point, and in that I learn of him.

Conversation in society is found to be on a platform so low as to exclude science, the saint, and the poet.

If you will not lend me the money, how can I pay you?

Things bring their own philosophy with them, that is, prudence.

Imagination is a very high sort of seeing.

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. . . .

If we could have any security against moods! If the profoundest prophet could be holden to his words, and the hearer who is readyto sell all and join the crusade, could have any certificate that to-morrow his prophet shall not unsay his testimony!