Liberty must be a mighty thing; for by it God punishes and rewards nations.

I like people to be saints; but I want them to be first and superlatively honest men.

We recognize the action of God in great things: we exclude it in small. We forget that the Lord of eternity is also the Lord of the hour.

A good, finished scandal, fully armed and equipped, such as circulates in the world, is rarely the production of a single individual, or even of a single coterie. It sees the light in one; is rocked and nurtured in another; is petted, developed, and attains its growth in a third; and receives its finishing touches only after passing through a multitude of hands. It is a child that can count a host of fathers--all ready to disown it.

We deceive ourselves when we fancy that only weakness needs support. Strength needs it far more.

God has prohibited despair.

America has begun her career at the culminating point of life, as Adam did at the age of thirty.