From a human point of view, the difference between the mind of a human and that of a mountain goat is wonderful; from the point of view of the infinite ignorance that surrounds us, the difference is not impressive. Indeed, from that point of view, the goat may have the better mind, for he is more congenially adapted to his place, and he would not endanger his species or his planet for the sake of an idea.

To mind being disliked by a woman you don’t desire and are not married to is yet another serious failure of common sense.

We cannot know the whole truth, which belongs to God alone, but our task nevertheless is to seek to know what is true. And if we offend gravely enough against what we know to be true, as by failing badly enough to deal affectionately and responsibly with our land and our neighbors, truth will retaliate with ugliness, poverty, and disease.

Some nights in the midst of this loneliness I swung among the scattered stars at the end of the thin thread of faith alone.

Better than any argument is to rise at dawn and pick dew-wet red berries in a cup.

A man's life is always dealing with permanence, that is the most dangerous kind of irresponsibility is to think of your doings as temporary.

Praise ignorance, for what man has not encountered he has not destroyed.