The quote database

Though slowly and with pain, the objects of the affections change, as the objects of thought do.

It is injurious to the mind as well as to the body to be always in one place and always surrounded by the same circumstances.

Marriage is terrifying, but so is a cold and forlorn old age.

In the course of time, we grow to love things we hated and hate things we loved.

Falling in love is the one illogical adventure, the one thing of which we are tempted to think as supernatural, in our trite and reasonable world.

The length of man's life, which is endless to the brave and busy, is scorned by his ambitious thought.

There is no cutting of the Gordian knots of life; each must be smilingly unravelled.

Difficult and embarrassing questions meet us at the threshold of this subject.

The natural flights of the human mind are not from pleasure to pleasure, but from hope to hope.

Futurity is the proper abode of hope and fear, with all their train and progeny of subordinate apprehensions and desires.

Great evils are in some cases only to be met by resistance; they cannot be wept down, but must be battled down.

We are responsible for what we are; and whatever we wish ourselves to be, we have the power to make ourselves.

I do not pretend to understand the moral universe, the arc is a long one, my eye reaches but little ways. I cannot calculate the curve and complete the figure by the experience of sight; I can divine it by conscience. But from what I see I am sure it bends towards justice.

The great crisis must come, or no man has the chance to develop great qualities.

Alas, we have known Times call loudly enough for their great man; but not find him when they called!

We have it in our power to begin the world over again

The enormous expense of governments has provoked people to think, by making them feel; and when once the veil begins to rend, it admits not of repair.

If to-day thou art not ready, how shalt thou be ready to-morrow?

If we would put some slight stress on ourselves at the beginning, then afterwards we should be able to do all things with ease and joy.

Little by little, through patience and long-suffering, thou shalt conquer by the help of God, rather than by violence and thine own strength of will.

Now dost thou resolve to avoid a fault, and within an hour thou behavest thyself as if thou hadst never resolved at all.

Words had to change their ordinary meaning and to take that which was now given them.

war takes away the easy supply of daily wants, and so proves a rough master, that brings most men's characters to a level with their fortunes

The position of the Negro today in America is the tragic but inevitable consequence of centuries of unequal treatment.

There are but few important events in the affairs of men brought about by their own choice.