The trees reflected in the river — they are unconscious of a spiritual world so near to them. So are we.

The greatest obstacle to being heroic is the doubt whether one may not be going to prove one’s self a fool the truest heroism is, to resist the doubt and the profoundest wisdom, to know when it ought to be resisted, and when to be obeyed.

In youth men are apt to write more wisely than they really know or feel and the remainder of life may be not idly spent in realizing and convincing themselves of the wisdom which they uttered long ago.

The world owes all its onward impulses to men ill at ease. The happy man inevitably confines himself within ancient limits.

No man, for any considerable period, can wear one face to himself and another to the multitude, without finally getting bewildered as to which may be true.

What other dungeon is so dark as one’s own heart What jailer so inexorable as one’s self