Friends are thieves of time.
Truth is so hard to tell, it sometimes needs fiction to make it plausible.
Many a man’s strength is in opposition, and when he faileth, he grows out of use.
The momentous thing in human life is the art of winning the soul to good or evil.
The person is a poor judge who by an action can be disgraced more in failing than they can be honored in succeeding.
Discretion of speech is more than eloquence, and to speak agreeably to him with whom we deal is more than to speak in good words, or in good order.
If a man be gracious and courteous to strangers, it shows he is a citizen of the world.
If I knew for a certainty that a man was coming to my house with the conscious design of doing me good, I should run for my life.
If we live truly, we shall see truly.
Let us not look east and west for materials of conversation, but rest in presence and unity. A just feeling will fast enough supply fuel for discourse, if speaking be more grateful than silence. When people come to see us, we foolishly prattle, lest we be inhospitable. But things said for conversation are chalk eggs. Don’t say things. What you are stands over you the while, and thunders so that I cannot hear what you say to the contrary. A lady of my acquaintance said, I don’t care so much for what they say as I do for what makes them say it.
If no mistake have you made, yet losing you are a different game you should play.
No matter how often you are defeated, you are born to victory.
Does he council you better who bids you, Money, by right means, if you can: but by any means, make money?
The ordinary man is an anarchist. He wants to do as he likes. He may want his neighbor to be governed, but he himself doesn’t want to be governed. He is mortally afraid of government officials and policemen.
Associate reverently, as much as you can, with your loftiest thoughts.
Life is a progress from want to want, not from enjoyment to enjoyment.
The way to gain a good reputation is to endeavor to be what you desire to appear.
The betrothed and accepted lover has lost the wildest charms of his maiden by her acceptance. She was heaven while he pursued her, but she cannot be heaven if she stoops to one such as he!
Every person is a God in embryo. Its only desire is to be born.
Their learning is like bread in a besieged town: every man gets a little, but no man gets a full meal.
I would rather be attacked than unnoticed. For the worst thing you can do to an author is to be silent as to his works. An assault upon a town is a bad thing; but starving it is still worse.
For who is pleased with himself.
