Labor, in itself, is neither elevating or otherwise. It is the laborer's privilege to ennoble his work by the aim with which he undertakes it, and by the enthusiasm and faithfulness he puts into it.

If the world seems cold to you, kindle fires to warm it.

Whatever with the past has gone, The best is always yet to come.

He who plants a tree, plants a hope.

The peach-bud glows, the wild bee hums, and wind-flowers wave in graceful gladness.

A drop of water, if it could write out its own history, would explain the universe to us.

Like a plant that starts up in showers and sunshine and does not know which has best helped it to grow, it is difficult to say whether the hard things or the pleasant things did me the most good.

When April steps aside for May, Like diamonds all the rain-drops glisten; Fresh violets open every day: To some new bird each hour we listen.

Some of us must wait for the best human gifts until we come to heavenly places. Our natural desire for musical utterance is perhaps a prophecy that in a perfect world we shall all know how to sing.

Every true friend is a glimpse of God.

I defied the machinery to make me its slave. Its incessant discords could not drown the music of my thoughts if I would let them fly high enough.

You don't have to be a doctor to know when a relationship is not healthy.

Any bridge you refuse to burn gives Satan an invitation and re-entry point into your life.

We believe a scientist because he can substantiate his remarks, not because he is eloquent and forcible in his enunciation. In fact, we distrust him when he seems to be influencing us by his manner.

It looks like I'm going to be 40 and life begins at 40 -​ so they promise. And I believe it, too.

The universities are a sort of lunatic asylum for keeping young men out of mischief.

I wish I had a gentle mind and a spine made up of iron.

If we continue to devalue ourselves we cannot realistically expect respect from others.

If I live, I mean to spend the rest of my life working for perpetual peace. I have seen war and faced artillery and know what an outrage it is against simple men.

Let the gulled fool the toil of war pursue, where bleed the many to enrich the few.