The most characteristic mark of a great mind is to choose some one important object, and pursue it for life.

We neither laugh alone, nor weep alone, why then should we pray alone?

The dead of midnight is the noon of thought.

We can only love what we know.

When one by one our ties are torn, and friend from friend is snatched forlorn; when man is left alone to mourn, oh! then how sweet it is to die!

Children have almost an intuitive discernment between the maxims you bring forward for their use, and those by which you direct your own conduct.

The first pale blossom of the unripened year.

Society than solitude is worse, And man to man is still the greatest curse.

It is to hope, though hope were lost.

Say not 'Good-night' but in some brighter clime, bid me 'Good-morning.'

Child of mortality, whence comest thou? Why is thy countenance sad, and why are thine eyes red with weeping?

I get called 'Mayor West' a lot in airports. I've been very fortunate to have a fan base that keeps growing, and the work gets such a warm response and humor from people.

Loss could be used as a measure of beauty in a woman.

I didn't know what I wanted to do, but I always knew the woman I wanted to be.

You don't need jails, you get put a thousand miles into the middle of Australia, you can go wherever you want, go ahead, but if you come into a city it's straight to jail.

One attraction in coming to the woods to live was that I should have leisure and opportunity to see the spring come in.

If I were playing today I'd do what Joe DiMaggio said. I'd go knock on the door at Yankee Stadium and when George Steinbrenner answered I'd say, 'Howdy, pardner.'

Television can only destroy.

I wonder about all the roads not taken and am moved to quote Frost...but won't. It is sad to be able only to mouth other poets. I want someone to mouth me.

The treason of which I stand convicted loses all its guilt, has been sanctified as a duty, and will be ennobled as a sacrifice.