You may not, cannot, appropriate beauty. It is the wealth of the eye, and a cat may gaze upon a king.

I do not pretend to understand the moral universe; the arc is a long one. . . . But from what I see I am sure it bends toward justice.

Wit has its place in debate; in controversy it is a legitimate weapon, offensive and defensive.

Remorse is the pain of sin.

I do not pretend to understand the moral universe; the arc is a long one, my eye reaches but little ways; I cannot calculate the curve and complete the figure by the experience of sight, I can divine it by conscience. And from what I see I am sure it bends towards justice.

It seems strange that a butterfly's wing should be woven up so thin and gauzy in the monstrous loom of nature, and be so delicately tipped with fire from such a gross hand, and rainbowed all over in such a storm of thunderous elements. The marvel is that such great forces do such nice work.

The earnestness of life is the only passport to satisfaction of life.