The more sincere we are in our belief, as a rule, the less demonstrative we are.

Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul.

We should not judge people by their peak of excellence; but by the distance they have traveled from the point where they started.

The Church is not a gallery for the exhibition of eminent Christians, but a school for the education of imperfect ones.

Some men are like pyramids, which are very broad where they touch the ground, but grow narrow as they reach the sky.

As for marigolds, poppies, hollyhocks, and valorous sunflowers, we shall never have a garden without them, both for their own sake, and for the sake of old-fashioned folks, who used to love them.

A person without a sense of humor is like a wagon without springs. It's jolted by every pebble on the road.

The thistle is a prince. Let any man that has an eye for beauty take a view of the whole plant, and where will he see a more expressive grace and symmetry; and where is there a more kingly flower?

Hold yourself responsible for a higher standard than anybody expects of you. Never excuse yourself.

He is rich or poor according to what he is, not according to what he has.

Every tomorrow has two handles. We can take hold of it with the handle of anxiety or the handle of faith.

I find it ridiculous to assign a gender to an inanimate object incapable of disrobing and making an occasional fool of itself.

It’s very fluid, this space between philosophy and literature, and that’s something that resonates for me.

I was a kid watching music videos, which were so cool and made me want to learn how to dance. I wish I could've gone to dance classes and learn, like, hip-hop dancing.

Two kinds of people are good at foreseeing danger: those who have learned at their own expense, and the clever people who learn a great deal at the expense of others.

The world is filled with interesting things to do. Don't lead a dull life in such a thrilling world.

My share of the work may be limited, but the fact that it is work makes it precious.

My name is actually quite a popular name in Scotland. People elsewhere always think it's far more exotic than it is. In Scotland, it's a common name.

Every man of any education would rather be called a rascal, than accused of deficiency in the graces.

We earth men have a talent for ruining big, beautiful things.

The creative, loving-something life is also the healthy one. There is healing and protection in doing what makes you happy.