“The past, the present and the future are really one: they are today.”

Half the misery in the world comes of want of courage to speak and to hear the truth plainly and in a spirit of love.

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.

All places where women are excluded tend downward to barbarism; but the moment she is introduced, there come in with her courtesy, cleanliness, sobriety, and order.

It is generally understood that men don’t aspire after the absolute right, but only to do about as well as the rest of the world.

If you were not already my dearly loved husband I should certainly fall in love with you.

The literature of a people must so ring from the sense of its nationality; and nationality is impossible without self-respect, and self-respect is impossible without liberty.

One part of the science of living is to learn just what our own responsibility is, and to let other people’s alone.

Friendships are discovered rather than made.

There are in this world two kinds of natures, – those that have wings, and those that have feet, – the winged and the walking spirits. The walking are the logicians; the winged are the instinctive and poetic.

It isn’t mere love and good-will that is needed in a sick-room; it needs knowledge and experience.

Let us never doubt everything that ought to happen is going to happen.

No ornament of a house can compare with books; they are constant company in a room, even when you are not reading them.

Intemperance in eating is one of the most fruitful of all causes of disease and death.

General rules will bear hard on particular cases.

Let us resolve: First, to attain the grace of silence; second, to deem all fault finding that does no good a sin; third, to practice the grade and virtue of praise.

There is more done with pens than with swords.

When you die, it will not be because you are sick, but because you were alive.

You have to break in half to love somebody.

The mystery of love is greater than the mystery of death.

He who possesses most must be most afraid of loss.

Tame birds sing of freedom. Wild birds fly.

Learn this from water: loud splashes the brook but the oceans depth are calm.

Behind every exquisite thing that existed, there was something tragic.

Love is so blind, it feels right when it’s wrong.