The merit of those who fill a space in the world's history, who are borne forward, as it were, by the weight of thousands whom they lead, shed a perfume less sweet than do the sacrifices of private virtue.

When I bought my farm, I did not know what a bargain I had in the bluebirds, daffodils and thrushes; as little did I know what sublime mornings and sunsets I was buying.

It is said that the world is in a state of bankruptcy, that the world owes the world more than the world can pay.

The maker of a sentence launches out into the infinite.

It is defeat which educates us.

The compensations of calamity are made apparent to the understanding also, after long intervals of time.

In spite of warnings, change rarely occurs until the status quo becomes more painful than change. People seem not to see that their opinion of the world is also a confession of their character.