Life is a mirror: if you frown at it, it frowns back; if you smile, it returns the greeting.
It is from the level of calamities ... that we learn impressive and useful lessons.
Attacking is the only secret. Dare and the world always yields; or if it beats you sometimes, dare it again, and it will succumb.
Mother is the name for God in the lips and hearts of children.
The world is a looking glass and gives back to every man the reflection of his own face. Frown at it and it will in turn look sourly upon you; laugh at it and with it, and it is a jolly, kind companion.
To love and win is the best thing. To love and lose, the next best.
Which of us is happy in this world? Which of us has his desire? or, having it, is satisfied?
Here is a minute. It may be my love is dead, but here is a minute to kneel over the grave and pray by it.
It was in the reign of George II. that the above-named personages lived and quarrelled ; good or bad, handsome or ugly, rich or poor, they are all equal now
There are a thousand thoughts lying within a man that he does not know till he takes up the pen to write.
I have long gone about with a conviction on my mind that I had a work to do—a Work, if you like, with a great W; a Purpose to fulfil; ... a Great Social Evil to Discover and to Remedy.
Some cynical Frenchman has said that there are two parties to a love-transaction: the one who loves and the other who condescends to be so treated.
It may be whispered to those uninitiated people who are anxious to know the habits and make the acquaintance of men of letters, that there are no race of people who talk about books, or, perhaps, who read books, so little as literary men.
If a secret history of books could be written, and the author's private thoughts and meanings noted down alongside of his story, how many insipid volumes would become interesting, and dull tales excite the reader!
'Tis strange what a man may do, and a woman yet think him an angel.
Next to excellence is the appreciation of it.
Good humor is one of the best articles of dress one can wear in society.
Let a man who has to make his fortune in life remember this maxim: Attacking is the only secret. Dare and the world yields, or if it beats you sometimes, dare it again and you will succeed.
Follow your honest convictions and be strong.
What money is better bestowed than that of a schoolboy's tip? How the kindness is recalled by the recipient in after days! It blesses him that gives and him that takes.
