“Of course, in a novel, people’s hearts break, and they die and that is the end of it; and in a story this is very convenient. But in real life we do not die when all that makes life bright dies to us.”

It is no merit in the sorrowful that they weep, or to the oppressed and smothering that they gasp and struggle, not to me, that I must speak for the oppressed – who cannot speak for themselves.

To do common things perfectly is far better worth our endeavor than to do uncommon things respectably.

there is no independence and pertinacity of opinion like that of these seemingly soft, quiet creatures, whom it is so easy to silence, and so difficult to convince.

O, with what freshness, what solemnity and beauty, is each new day born; as if to say to insensate man, “Behold! thou hast one more chance! Strive for immortal glory!

Love is very beautiful, but very, very sad.

Why don’t somebody wake up to the beauty of old women?

There are two classes of human beings in this world: one class seem made to give love, and the other to take it.

People will accept your ideas much more readily if you tell them that Benjamin Franklin said it first. Perhaps it is impossible for a person who does no good to do no harm.

So much has been said and sung of beautiful young girls, why doesn’t somebody wake up to the beauty of old women.

O, what an untold world there is in one human heart!

Witness, eternal God! Oh, witness that, from this hour, I will do what one man can to drive out this curse of slavery from my land!

There are griefs which grow with years.

I am one of the sort that lives by throwing stones at other people’s glass houses, but I never mean to put up one for them to stone.

Talk of the abuses of slavery! Humbug! The thing itself is the essence of all abuse!

It lies around us like a cloud- A world we do not see; Yet the sweet closing of an eye May bring us there to be.

The Negro is an exotic of the most gorgeous and superb countries of the world, and he has deep in his heart a passion for all that is splendid, rich and fanciful.

When you learn to navigate and manage your breath, you can navigate any situation in life

There is not room for Death, Nor atom that his might could render void: Thou – Thou art Being and Breath, And what Thou art may never be destroyed.

In the cold I centre myself and my breathing to transfer all my heat into the centre of my body.

Sometimes when I think how good my book can be, I can hardly breathe.

I have to remind myself to breathe — almost to remind my heart to beat!

Until I feared I would lose it, I never loved to read. One does not love breathing.

Deep breathing changes the chemistry of the body by bringing oxygen into the tissue.

And in this moment, like a swift intake of breath, the rain came.