40 quotes
American author (1804–1864)
“Angels do not toil, but let their good works grow out of them.”
"Time flies over us, but leaves its shadow behind."
on Time
"Preach! Write! Act! Do any thing, save to lie down and die!"
on Courage
"All brave men love; for he only is brave who has affections to fight for, whether in the daily battle of life, or in physical contests."
on Love
"A hero cannot be a hero unless in a heroic world."
on Philosophy
"Might and wrong combined, like iron magnetized, are endowed with irresistible attraction."
on Power
"Happiness is a butterfly which when pursued is always just beyond your grasp but which if you will sit down quietly may alight upon you."
on Happiness
"Selfishness is one of the qualities apt to inspire love."
"She had not known the weight until she felt the freedom."
on Freedom
"Happiness is a butterfly, which when pursued, is always just beyond your grasp, but which, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you."
"Our most intimate friend is not he to whom we show the worst, but the best of our nature."
on Friendship
"Religion and art spring from the same root and are close kin. Economics and art are strangers."
on Art
"A stale article, if you dip it in a good, warm, sunny smile, will go off better than a fresh one that you've scowled upon."
on Writing
"But never had their youthful beauty seemed so pure and high, as when its glow was chastened by adversity."
on Resilience
"... for when a man's spirit has been thoroughly crushed, he may be peevish at small offenses, but never resentful of great ones."
"Strength is incomprehensible by weakness, and, therefore, the more terrible."
on Strength
"Pluck up a spirit, and do not be all the time sighing and murmuring!"
"I have laughed, in bitterness and agony of heart, at the contrast between what I seem and what I am!"
on Identity
"Shall we never never get rid of this Past? ... It lies upon the Present like a giant's dead body."
on Life
"To the untrue man, the whole universe is false--it is impalpable--it shrinks to nothing within his grasp."
"I have come to see the nonsense of trying to describe fine scenery."
