I feel some unwillingness to quit the remembrance of the past. With all the hope of the new I feel that we are leaving the old.

It is one of the biggest blessing that you can be stupid with your true friends and behave like you shame to do elsewhere

As long as any man exists, there is some need of him.

I confess myself utterly at a loss in suggesting particular reforms in our ways of teaching. No discretion that can be lodged with a school-committee, with the overseers or visitors of an academy, of a college, can at all avail to reach these difficulties and perplexities, but they solve themselves when we leave institutions and address individuals.

The world still wants its poet-priest, a reconciler, who shall not trifle with Shakspeare the player, nor shall grope in graves with Swedenborg the mourner; but who shall see, speak, and act, with equal inspiration. For knowledge will brighten the sunshine; right is more beautiful than private affection; and love is compatible with universal wisdom.

Every man is wanted, and no man is wanted much.

Let a man behave in his own house as a guest.