A cheerful intelligent face is the end of culture, and success enough. For it indicates the purpose of Nature and wisdom attained.

I am old, yet I look at wise men and see that I am very young. I look over those stars yonder, and into the myriads of the aspirant and ordered souls, and see I am a stranger and a youth and have yet my spurs to win. Too ridiculous are these airs of age.

Truth is the summit of being; justice is the application of it to affairs.

Every reform was once a private opinion, and when it shall be a private opinion again, it will solve the problem of the age.

Some men at the approach of a dispute neigh like horses. Unless there be an argument, they think nothing is doing. Some talkers excel in the precision with which they formulate their thoughts, so that you get from them somewhat to remember; others lay criticism asleep by a charm. Especially women use words that are not words,--as steps in a dance are not steps,--but reproduce the genius of that they speak of; as the sound of some bells makes us think of the bell merely, whilst the church chimes in the distance bring the church and its serious memories before us.

The measure of action is the sentiment from which it proceeds. The greatest action may easily be one of the most private circumstance.

All high beauty has a moral element in it.