He who has never denied himself for the sake of giving has but glanced at the joys of charity.

Old age is not one of the beauties of creation, but it is one of its harmonies. The law of contrasts is one of the laws of beauty. Under the conditions of our climate, shadow gives light its worth; sternness enhances mildness; solemnity, splendor. Varying proportions of size support and subserve one another.

Our vanity is the constant enemy of our dignity.

We are often prophets to others only because we are our own historians.

Real sorrow is almost as difficult to discover as real poverty. An instinctive delicacy hides the rays of the one and the wounds of the other.

Let our lives be pure as snowfields, where our steps leave a mark but no stain.

People read every thing nowadays, except books.