No amount of ability is of the slightest avail without honor.

When we can drain the Ocean into mill-ponds, and bottle up the Force of Gravity, to be sold by retail, in gas jars; then may we hope to comprehend the infinitudes of man's soul under formulas of Profit and Loss; and rule over this too, as over a patent engine, by checks, and valves, and balances.

If a book comes from the heart, it will contrive to reach other hearts; all art and author-craft are of small amount to that.

The glory of a workman, still more of a master workman, that he does his work well, ought to be his most precious possession; like the honor of a soldier, dearer to him than life.

Histories are a kind of distilled newspapers.

Our grand business undoubtedly is, not to see what lies dimly at a distance, but to do what lies clearly at hand.

There needs not a great soul to make a hero; there needs a god-created soul which will be true to its origin; that will be a great soul!