Sympathy is a supporting atmosphere, and in it we unfold easily and well.

The great make its feel, first of all, the indifference of circumstances. They call into activity the higher perceptions, and subdue the low habits of comfort and luxury; but the higher perceptions find their objects everywhere; only the low habits need palaces and banquets.

It is frivolous to fix pedantically the date of particular inventions. They have all been invented over and over fifty times. Man is the arch machine, of which all these shifts drawn from himself are toy models. He helps himself on each emergency by copying or duplicating his own structure, just so far as then need is.

A man is like a bit of Labrador spar, which has no luster as you turn it in your hand, until you come to a particular angle; then it shows deep and beautiful colors.

Every man has his own courage, and is betrayed because he seeks in himself the courage of other persons.

He cannot be happy and strong until he too lives with nature in the present, above time.

In failing circumstances no one can be relied on to keep their integrity.