The grand result of schooling is a mind with just vision to discern, with free force to do: the grand schoolmaster is Practice.

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

There is a majesty and mystery in nature, take her as you will. The essence of poetry comes breathing to a mind that feels from every province of her empire.

The Great Man's sincerity is of the kind he cannot speak of, is not conscious of: nay, I suppose, he is conscious rather of insincerity; for what man can walk accurately by the law of truth for one day? No, the Great Man does not boast himself sincere, far from that; perhaps does not ask himself if he is so: I would say rather, his sincerity does not depend on himself; he cannot help being sincere!

I had a lifelong quarrel with God, but in the end we made up.

The great law of culture is, Let each become all that he was created capable of being; expand, if possible, to his full growth; resisting all impediments, casting off all foreign, especially all noxious adhesions, and show himself at length in his own shape and stature be these what they may.

War is a quarrel between two thieves too cowardly to fight their own battle.