“Every creature is better alive than dead, men and moose and pine trees, and he who understands it aright will rather preserve its life than destroy it.
“Our real blessings often appear to us in the shape of pains, losses and disappointments; but let us have patience and we soon shall see them in their proper figures.
“Reflect upon your present blessings, of which every man has plenty; not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some
“You shall find out how salt is the taste of another man's bread, and how hard is the way up and down another man's stairs
“No one can really pull you up very high - you lose your grip on the rope. But on your own two feet you can climb mountains
“I don't wait for moods. You accomplish nothing if you do that. Your mind must know it has got to get down to work
“Think of yourself as on the threshold of unparalleled success. A whole, clear, glorious life lies before you. Achieve! Achieve!
“No power in society, no hardship in your condition can depress you, keep you down, in knowledge, power, virtue, influence, but by your own consent.
“Never be entirely idle; but either be reading, or writing, or praying or meditating or endeavoring something for the public good
“If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant; if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome