All the earth, though it were full of kind hearts, is but a desolation and desert place to a mother when her only child is absent.

To be sure a stepmother to a girl is a different thing to a second wife to a man!

But the cloud never comes in that quarter of the horizon from which we watch for it.

He had not an ounce of superfluous flesh on his bones, and leanness goes a great way towards gentility.

A wise parent humors the desire for independent action, so as to become the friend and advisor when his absolute rule shall cease.

I look at [books] as a child looks at cakes - with glittering eyes and a watering mouth, imagining the pleasure that awaits him.

There is nothing like wounded affection for giving poignancy to anger.

Anticipation was the soul of enjoyment.

Those who are happy and successful themselves are too apt to make light of the misfortunes of others.

I dare not hope. I never was fainthearted before; but I cannot believe such a creature cares for me.

But the future must be met, however stern and iron it be.

Prayer still works, you need not be so quick to judge another person. You never know what they are going through. Instead, pray for them. Send encouragement their way.

Respect, I think, always implies imagination - the ability to see one another, across our inevitable differences, as living souls.

The highest and most lofty trees have the most reason to dread the thunder.

Not less strong than the will to truth must be the will to sincerity. Only an age, which can show the courage of sincerity, can possess truth, which works as a spiritual force within it.

An object that is at rest will tend to stay at rest. An object that is in motion will tend to stay in motion.

I knew neither jealousy nor hate but was possessed by a rage to recreate a new world, the world which my eyes perceived, a world all to myself. I was poor but I knew that life is beautiful.

Sometimes I'm confused by what I think is really obvious. But what I think is really obvious obviously isn't obvious.

I have no intention of dying. In fact, it will be the last thing I do!

The always-connected culture isn't as much a contributor as Grace might think. The nervous mind, the monkey mind, will create its own noise. It doesn't need a new toy.

The most important things are that you are honest with yourself and that making music comes from your heart