Revolutions go not backward.
The key to every man is his thought. Sturdy and defying though he look, he has a helm which he obeys, which is the idea after which all his facts are classified. He can only be reformed by showing him a new idea which commands his own.
Is not marriage an open question, when it is alleged, from the beginning of the world, that such as are in the institution wish to get out, and such as are out wish to get in?
It is impossible for a man to be cheated by anyone but himself.
Shall we then judge a country by the majority, or by the minority? By the minority, surely. ‘Tis pedantry to estimate nations by the census, or by square miles of land, or other than by their importance to the mind of the time.
Language is the archives of history.
The best effort of a fine person is felt after we have left their presence.
Do not do to others what angers you if done to you by others.
The search after the great men is the dream of youth, and the most serious occupation of manhood.
Our impartiality is kept for abstract merit and demerit, which none of us ever saw.
If you would convince a man that he does wrong, do right. Men will believe what they see.
Fidelity is the sister of justice.
We are symbols, and inhabit symbols.
A wicked fellow is the most pious when he takes to it. He’ll beat you all at piety.
One of the lessons that I grew up with was to always stay true to yourself, and never let what somebody else says distract you from your goals.
The drama’s laws, the drama’s patrons give, for we that live to please, must please to live.
But lo! men have become the tools of their tools.
Heroism feels and never reasons, and therefore is always right.
The chief mourner does not always attend the funeral.
When I look back on all the worries I remember the story of the old man who said on his deathbed that he had a lot of trouble in his life, most of which never happened.
The worst sin… is… to be indifferent.
We meet on the broad pathway of good faith and good will; no advantage shall be taken on either side, but all shall be openness and love. I will not call you children, — for parents sometimes chide their children too severely; nor brothers only, — for brothers differ. The friendship between me and you I will not compare to a chain; for that the rains might rust, or the falling tree might break. We are the same as if one man’s body were to be divided into two parts, we are all one flesh and blood.
