In private places, among sordid objects, an act of truth or heroism seems at once to draw to itself the sky as its temple, the sun as its cradle. Nature stretches out her arms to embrace man, only let his thoughts be of equal greatness.

The multitude of false churches accredits the true religion.

Eloquence is the appropriate organ of the highest personal energy.

Enthusiasm is the height of man; it is the passing from the human to the divine.

If the stars should appear but one night every thousand years how man would marvel and stare.

The mob is man voluntarily descending to the nature of the beast.

[T]omorrow is a new day. You shall begin it well & serenely, & with too high a spirit to be cumbered with your old nonsense. This day ... is too dear with its hopes & invitations to waste a moment on the rotten yesterdays.