To aim to convert a man by miracles is a profanation of the soul. A true conversion, a true Christ, is now, as always, to be madeby the reception of beautiful sentiments.

Without ambition one starts nothing. Without work one finishes nothing. The prize will not be sent to you. You have to win it.

I have come to believe that the whole world is an enigma, a harmless enigma that is made terrible by our own mad attempt to interpret it as though it had an underlying truth. If two or three persons should come with a high spiritual aim and with great powers, the world would fall into their hands like a ripe peach.

Look out into the July night, and see the broad belt of silver flame which flashes up the half of heaven, fresh and delicate as the bonfires of the meadow-flies. Yet the powers of numbers cannot compute its enormous age,—lasting as space and time,—embosomed in time and space.

Too busy with the crowded hour to fear to live or die.

Be lord of a day, through wisdom and justice, and you can put up your history books.

The reliance on authority measures the decline of religion, the withdrawal of the soul.