Manners have been somewhat cynically defined to be a contrivance of wise men to keep fools at a distance. Fashion is shrewd to detect those who do not belong to her train, and seldom wastes her attentions. Society is very swift in its instincts, and if you do not belong to it, resists and sneers at you, or quietly drops you.

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

Nobody can bring you peace but yourself.

When believers and unbelievers live in the same manner - I distrust the religion.

Many photographers think they are photographing nature when they are only caricaturing her.

Our people are slow to learn the wisdom of sending character instead of talent to Congress. Again and again they have sent a man of great acuteness, a fine scholar, a fine forensic orator, and some master of the brawls has crunched him up in his hands like a bit of paper.

To fill the hour; that is happiness to fill the hour, and leave no crevice for a repentance or an approval.