Innumerable are the illusions and legerdemain-tricks of custom: but of all of these, perhaps the cleverest is her knack of persuading us that the miraculous, by simple repetition, ceases to be miraculous.

The three great elements of modern civilization, Gun powder, Printing, and the Protestant religion.

One seems to believe almost all that they believe; and when they stop short and call it a Religion, and you pass on, and call it only a reminiscence of one, should you not part with the kiss of peace?

Every man has a coward and hero in his soul.

All evil is like a nightmare; the instant you stir under it, the evil is gone.

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

What is nature? Art thou not the living government of God? O Heaven, is it in very deed He then that ever speaks through thee, that lives and loves in thee, that lives and loves in me?