Energy enables a man to force his way through irksome drudgery and dry details and caries him onward and upward to every station in life.

Riches do not constitute any claim to distinction. It is only the vulgar who admire riches as riches.

It is possible that the scrupulously honest man may not grow rich so fast as the unscrupulous and dishonest one; but the success will be of a truer kind, earned without fraud or injustice. And even though a man should for a time be unsuccessful, still he must be honest: better lose all and save character. For character is itself a fortune. . . .

Manners are the ornament of action.

For want of self-restraint many men are engaged all their lives in fighting with difficulties of their own making.

Although genius always commands admiration, character most secures respect. The former is more the product of the brain, the latter of heart-power; and in the long run it is the heart that rules in life.

It is not eminent talent that is required to ensure success in any pursuit, so much as purpose-not merely the power to achieve, but the will to labour energetically and perseveringly. Hence energy of will may be defined to be the very central power of character in a man-in a word, it is the Man himself.