For as this appalling ocean surrounds the verdant land, so in the soul of man there lies one insular Tahiti, full of peace and joy, but encompassed by all the horrors of the half known life.

It is better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation.

A smile is the chosen vehicle of all ambiguities.

I am, as I am; whether hideous, or handsome, depends upon who is made judge.

Of all the preposterous assumptions of humanity over humanity, nothing exceeds most of the criticisms made on the habits of the poor by the well-housed, well- warmed, and well-fed.

Dream tonight of peacock tails, Diamond fields and spouter whales. Ills are many, blessing few, But dreams tonight will shelter you.

Toil is man's allotment; toil of brain, or toil of hands, or a grief that's more than either, the grief and sin of idleness.

Meditation and water are wedded for ever.

I love to sail forbidden seas, and land on barbarous coasts.

Aye, aye! and I'll chase him round Good Hope, and round the Horn, and round the Norway Maelstrom, and round perdition's flames before I give him up.

War should be carried on like a monsoon; one changeless determination of every particle towards the one unalterable aim.

If not now, when?

An intangible substance, make up the world around us. But ironically, must still only foolishly trust, in what they can see or touch.

Every person writes his own book with the example of his life.

The American dream was not, at least at the beginning, a rags-to-riches type of narrow materialism.

As well as any bloom upon a flower I like the dust on the nettles, never lost Except to prove the sweetness of a shower.

Despite the fact that feminists say they're not getting a fair deal, women are still very powerful.

A positive thinker does not refuse to recognize the negative; he refuses to dwell on it.

If there's something more awaiting me in the future, I'd rather leave it up to God since what He creates is far better than my imagination.

Wherever the truth is injured, defend it.

I did want to mark the fact that it was the first African-American to win the Lead Actress category.I thought it was so progressive.