The idea of God ends in a paltry Methodist meeting-house.

The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.

It is commonly said by farmers, that a good pear or apple costs no more time or pains to rear, than a poor one; so I would have no work of art, no speech, or action, or thought, or friend, but the best.

The best of life is conversation, and the greatest success is confidence, or perfect understanding between sincere people.

If I know your sect, I anticipate your argument

Genius has infused itself into nature. It indicates itself by a small excess of good, a small balance in brute facts always favorable to the side of reason.

There is ever a slight suspicion of the burlesque about earnest good men.