“How many of us have been first attracted to reason, first learned to think, to draw conclusions, to extract a moral from the follies of life, by some dazzling aphorism from Rochefoucauld or La Bruyere.”

Virtue, like a dowerless beauty, has more admirers than followers.

Everything pales in comparison to deer.

The wise man realistically accepts as part of life and builds a philosophy to meet them and make the most of them. He lives on the principle of nothing attempted, nothing gained and is resolved that if he fails he is going to fail while trying to succeed.

Men do not mirror themselves in running water; they mirror themselves in still water.

American culture has always known success, not suffering, so we’ve never known what to do with this part of the Bible.

The great soul that sits on the throne of the universe is not, never was, and never will be, in a hurry.

Letters should be easy and natural.

It would be nice if the poor were to get even half of the money that is spent in studying them.

The eyes are the amulets of the mind.

A third, of more extensive learning, ran To Sir George Villiers’ Ghost, and Mrs. Veal; Of sheeted Spectres spoke with shorten’d breath, And thrice he quoted Drelincourt on Death.

I count this thing to be grandly true: That a noble deed is a step toward God.

The Universe knows itself and expands itself through me.

O hour, of all hours, the most blesse’d upon earth, The bless’d hour of our dinners!

It’s never safe to be nostalgic about something until you’re absolutely certain there’s no chance of its coming back

Most people – and particularly people whose lives have nothing to do with books at all – are intrigued by the idea that somebody wants to listen to them and get it right.

Even pearls are dark before the whiteness of his teeth.

Things are working out… towards their dazzling conclusions.

O Hope! Dazzling, radiant Hope! What a change thou bringest to the hopeless; brightening the darkened paths, and cheering the lonely way.

With dazzling pomp descending angels sung Good will and peace to men, to God due praise, Who on the errand of salvation sent