The Good Spirit never cared for the colleges, and though all men and boys were now drilled in Greek, Latin, and Mathematics, it had quite left these shells high on the beach, and was creating and feeding other matters [science] at other ends of the world.

Every man is a quotation from all his ancestors.

Discontent is want of self-reliance; it is infirmity of will.

Keep the town for occasions, but the habits should be formed in retirement.

Great genial power, one would almost say, consists in not being original at all; in being altogether receptive; in letting the world do all, and suffering the spirit of the hour to pass unobstructed through the mind.

There is always safety in valor.

In every situation do the thing you fear. If you do the thing you fear, the death of fear is certain.