
Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures.

Hold yourself to a higher standard than anyone else expects of you. Never excuse yourself.

Troubles are often the tools by which God fashions us for better things.

I never knew how to worship until I knew how to love.

Hold yourself responsible for a higher standard than anybody else expects of you. Never excuse yourself. Never pity yourself. Be a hard master to yourself-and be lenient to everybody else.

All words are pegs to hang ideas on.

Books are not made for furniture, but there is nothing else that so beautifully furnishes a house.

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

The unthankful heart discovers no mercies; but the thankful heart will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings.

Never forget what a man says to you when he is angry.

Where is human nature so weak as in the bookstore?

A library is not a luxury but one of the necessities of life.

The art of being happy lies in the power of extracting happiness from common things.

Adversity, if for no other reason, is of benefit, since it is sure to bring a season of sober reflection. People see clearer at such times. Storms purify the atmosphere.

A person without a sense of humor is like a wagon without springs, jolted by every pebble in the road.

Now comes the mystery! (last words)

No man is more cheated than the selfish man.

There are more quarrels smothered by just shutting your mouth, and holding it shut, than by all the wisdom in the world.

Young love is a flame; very pretty, often very hot and fierce, but still only light and flickering. The love of the older and disciplined heart is as coals, deep-burning, unquenchable.

Love cannot endure indifference. It needs to be wanted. Like a lamp, it needs to be fed out of the oil of another's heart, or its flame burns low.

The unthankful heart... discovers no mercies; but let the thankful heart sweep through the day and, as the magnet finds the iron, so it will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings!

Children are the hands by which we take hold of the heaven.

A book is good company. It is full of conversation without loquacity. It comes to your longing with full instruction, but pursues you never.

A church debt is the devil's salary.

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

All ambitions are lawful except those that climb upward on the miseries or credulities of mankind.

All men are tempted. There is no man that lives that can't be broken down, provided it is the right temptation, put in the right spot.

Beware of him who hates the laugh of a child.

Children are the hands by which we take hold of heaven.

Clothes and manners do not make the man; but, when he is made, they greatly improve his appearance.

Compassion will cure more sins than condemnation.

Every charitable act is a stepping stone toward heaven.

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

Faith is spiritualized imagination.

In this world it is not what we take up, but what we give up, that makes us rich.