A smile is ever the most bright and beautiful with a tear upon it. What is the dawn without the dew? The tear is rendered by the smile precious above the smile itself.

It appears to be among the laws of nature, that the mighty of intellect should be pursued and carped by the little, as the solitary flight of one great bird is followed by the twittering petulance of many smaller.

Music is God's gift to man, the only art of Heaven given to earth, the only art of earth we take to Heaven.

Wisdom consisteth not in knowing many things, nor even in knowing them thoroughly; but in choosing and in following what conduces the most certainly to our lasting happiness and true glory.

The most pernicious of absurdities is that weak, blind, stupid faith is better than the constant practice of every human virtue.

Every great writer is a writer of history, let him treat on almost what subject he may.

Teach him to live unto God and unto thee; and he will discover that women, like the plants in woods, derive their softness and tenderness from the shade.