There is a great deal of self-will in the world, but very little genuine independence of character.

Kindness has converted more sinners than either zeal, eloquence, or learning; and these three last have never converted any.

The great fact is, that life is a service. The only question is, "Whom will we serve?

Every moment of resistance to temptation is a victory.

There is a grace of kind listening, as well as a grace of kind speaking.

There are no disappointments to those whose wills are buried in the will of God.

Remember that if the opportunities for great deeds should never come, the opportunities for good deeds are renewed day by day. The thing for us to long for is the goodness, not the glory.

Kind words are the music of the world. They have a power which seems to be beyond natural causes, as if they were some angel's song which had lost its way and come to earth.

Many a friendship - long, loyal, and self-sacrificing - rested at first upon no thicker a foundation than a kind word.

Deep theology is the best fuel of devotion; it readily catches fire, and once kindled it burns long.

Holiness is an unselfing of ourselves.

I love nicknames. It makes me feel loved. It makes me feel less alone in this world.

We don't declare war any more; we declare national defense.

Severe truth is expressed with some bitterness.

I don't mind if my life goes in the service of the nation. If I die, every drop of my blood will invigorate the nation.

Creativity is God's will for us and should be practiced like any other spiritual practice -a day at a time.

in a way it doesn't matter whether you open doors or close them, you still end up in a box.

Love is irrational, I reminded myself. The more you loved someone, the less sense anything made.

Courageous people are still afraid, but they don't let the fear paralyze them.

I don't agree with the libertarians. I want my security first. I'll deal with all the details after that.

I strove with none; for none was worth my strife.