Mistakes and errors are the discipline through which we advance.

We honor revelation too highly to make it the antagonist of reason, or to believe that it calls us to renounce our highest powers.

The worst tyrants are those which establish themselves in our own breasts.

Let every man, if possible, gather some good books under his roof.

Every human being is intended to have a character of his own; to be what no others are, and to do what no other can do.

Every human being has a work to carry on within, duties to perform abroad, influence to exert, which are peculiarly his, and which no conscience but his own can teach.

A general loftiness of sentiment, independence of men, consciousness of good intentions, self-oblivion in great objects, clear views of futurity; thoughts of the blessed companionship of saints and angels, trust in God as the friend of truth and virtue,--these are the states of mind in which I should live.