The glance is natural magic. The mysterious communication established across a house between two entire strangers, moves all the springs of wonder.

The amount of a man's wealth consists in the number of things he can do without.

For splendor, there must somewhere be rigid economy. That the head of the house may go brave, the members must be plainly clad, and the town must save that the State may spend.

With most men, scarce a link of memory holds yesterday and to-day together.

Whenever the pulpit is usurped by a formalist, then is the worshipper defrauded and disconsolate.

An eye can threaten like a loaded and levelled gun, or it can insult like hissing or kicking; or, in its altered mood, by beams of kindness, it can make the heart dance for joy. ... One of the most wonderful things in nature is a glance of the eye; it transcends speech; it is the bodily symbol of identity.

The Buddhist, who thanks no man, who says "Do not flatter your benefactors," but who, in his conviction that every good deed can by no possibility escape its reward, will not deceive the benefactor by pretending that he has done more than he should, is a Transcendentalist.