It's a man's sincerity and depth of vision that makes him a poet.

A man perfects himself by working. Foul jungles are cleared away, fair seed-fields rise instead, and stately cities; and with the man himself first ceases to be a jungle, and foul unwholesome desert thereby. The man is now a man.

It were a real increase of human happiness, could all young men from the age of nineteen be covered under barrels, or rendered otherwise invisible; and there left to follow their lawful studies and callings, till they emerged, sadder and wiser, at the age of twenty-five.

Just in ratio as knowledge increases, faith diminishes.

It is a fact which escapes no one, that, generally speaking, whoso is acquainted with his worth has but a little stock to cultivate acquaintance with.

For all right judgment of any man or things it is useful, nay, essential, to see his good qualities before pronouncing on his bad.

Know what thou canst work at, and work at it like a Hercules.