There is, in all great poets, a wisdom of humanity which is superior to any talents they exercise.

I cannot remember the books I've read any more than the meals I have eaten; even so, they have made me.

In a world of infinite choice people are struggling to figure out what to do.

Society is the stage on which manners are shown; novels are the literature. Novels are the journal or record of manners; and the new importance of these books derives from the fact, that the novelist begins to penetrate the surface, and treat this part of life more worthily.

Preaching is the expression of moral sentiments applied to the duties of life.

All poets have signalized their consciousness of rare moments when they were superior to themselves, -when a light, a freedom, a power came to them which lifted them to performances far better than they could reach at other times.

When life has been well spent, age is a loss of what it can well spare,--muscular strength, organic instincts, gross bulk, and works that belong to these. But the central wisdom, which was old in infancy, is young in fourscore years, and dropping off obstructions, leaves in happy subjects the mind purified and wise.