Biography is the only true history.

The eye sees what it brings the power to see.

It is not to taste sweet things; but to do noble and true things, and vindicate himself under God's heaven as a God-made man, that the poorest son of Adam dimly longs. Show him the way of doing that, the dullest day-drudge kindles into a hero. They wrong man greatly who say he is to be seduced by ease. Difficulty, abnegation, martyrdom, death, are the allurements that act on the heart of man. Kindle the inner genial life of him, you have a flame that burns up all lower considerations.

'Genius' which means transcendent capacity of taking trouble, first of all.

In our wide world there is but one altogether fatal personage, the dunce,--he that speaks irrationally, that sees not, and yet thinks he sees.

There are but two ways of paying debt: Increase of industry in raising income, increase of thrift in laying out.

A laugh, to be joyous, must flow from a joyous heart, for without kindness, there can be no true joy.