My hours are peaceful centuries.

Let not a man guard his dignity, but let his dignity guard him.

Our faith comes in moments; our vice is habitual.

The man for whom the law exists - the man of forms, the conservative - is a tame man.

There are many eyes that can detect and honor the prudent and household virtues; there are many that can discern Genius on his starry track, though the mob is incapable; but when that love which is all-suffering, all-abstaining, all-aspiring, which has vowed to itself, that it will be a wretch and also a fool in this world, sooner than soil its white hands by any compliances, comes into our streets and houses,--only the pure and aspiring can know its face, and the only compliment they can pay it, is to own it.

[on Thoreau:] For not a particle of respect had he to the opinions of any man or body of men, but homage solely to truth itself.

Life is short but there is always time for courtesy.