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.

Men are better than this theology.

The truth, the hope of any time, must always be sought in minorities.

The reason of idleness and of crime is the deferring of our hopes.

There is a blessed necessity by which the interest of men is always driving them to the right; and, again, making all crime mean and ugly.

Conservatism is affluent and openhanded, but there is a cunning juggle in riches. I observe that they take somewhat for everythingthey give. I look bigger, but am less; I have more clothes, but am nit so warm; more armor, but less courage; more books, but less wit.

We estimate the wisdom of nations by seeing what they did with their surplus capital.