When we see a special reformer we feel like asking him, What right have you, sir, to your own virtue? Is virtue piecemeal?

The world looks like a multiplication-table, or a mathematical equation, which, turn it how you will, balances itself.

Knowledge is the antidote to fear

The power men possess to annoy me I give them by a weak curiosity

If any mention was made of homicide, madness, adultery, and intolerable tortures, we would let the church-bells ring louder, the church-organ swell its peal and drown the hideous sound. The sugar they raised was excellent: nobody tasted blood in it.

An artist spends himself like the crayon in his hand, till he is all gone.

The true preacher can be known by this, that he deals out to the people his life,--life passed through the fire of thought.