Never be so brief as to become obscure.

He that resolves upon any great and good end, has, by that very resolution, scaled the chief barrier to it. He will find such resolution removing difficulties, searching out or making means, giving courage for despondency, and strength for weakness, and like the star to the wise men of old, ever guiding him nearer and nearer to perfection.

We weep over the graves of infants and the little ones taken from us by death; but an early grave may be the shortest way to heaven.

Words are both better and worse than thoughts, they express them, and add to them; they give them power for good or evil; they start them on an endless flight, for instruction and comfort and blessing, or for injury and sorrow and ruin.

Most of our censure of others is only oblique praise of self, uttered to show the wisdom and superiority of the speaker. It has all the invidiousness of self-praise, and all the ill-desert of falsehood.

Credulity is belief in slight evidence, with no evidence, or against evidence.

Where duty is plain delay is both foolish and hazardous; where it is not, delay may be both wisdom and safety.