Happiness consists in the full employment of our faculties in some pursuit.
It is characteristic of genius to be hopeful and aspiring.
Who is apt, on occasion, to assign a multitude of reasons when one will do? This is a sure sign of weakness in argument.
A soul occupied with great ideas performs small duties.
For my own part, I had rather suffer any inconvenience from having to work occasionally in chambers and kitchen... than witness the subservience in which the menial class is held in Europe.
Laws and customs may be creative of vice; and should be therefore perpetually under process of observation and correction: but laws and customs cannot be creative of virtue: they may encourage and help to preserve it; but they cannot originate it.
Fidelity to conscience is inconsistent with retiring modesty. If it be so, let the modesty succumb. It can be only a false modesty which can be thus endangered.
There have been few things in my life which have had a more genial effect on my mind than the possession of a piece of land.
A soul preoccupied with great ideas best performs small duties.
It is my deliberate opinion that the one essential requisite of human welfare in all ways is scientific knowledge of human nature.
I am sure that no traveler seeing things through author spectacles can see them as they are.
You had better live your best and act your best and think your best today; for today is the sure preparation for tomorrow and all the other tomorrows that follow.
