The genius of life is friendly to the noble, and, in the dark, brings them friends from far.

The intelligent have a right over the ignorant; namely, the right of instructing them.

A painter told me that nobody could draw a tree without in some sort becoming a tree.

We are very near to greatness: one step and we are safe; can we not take the leap?

The longest wave is quickly lost in the sea.

I am thankful for small mercies. I compared notes with one of my friends who expect everything of the universe, and is disappointed when anything is less than the best, and I found that I begin at the other extreme, expecting nothing, and am always full of thanks for moderate good. . . . If we will take the good we find, . . . we shall have heaping measures. . . .

Life will show you masks that are worth all your carnivals