A disposition to dwell on the bright side of character, is like gold…

Should pale death with arrow dread Make the ocean caves our bed, Though no eye of love might see Where that shrouded grave shall be, Thou! who hear'st the surges roll, Deign to save the suppliant soul.

[T]he strength of a nation, especially of a republican nation, is in the intelligent and well-ordered homes of the people.

The most effectual of all ways for making ourselves feel morally whole, and for attaining to the greatest heights of self-complacency, is to fall upon others for the sins of which we are ourselves guilty.

More than all, and above all, Washington was master of himself. If there be one quality more than another in his character which may exercise a useful control over the men of the present hour, it is the total disregard of self when in the …

Forts, cannons and foreign aid will not help unless every man himself knows that he is the guard of his country.

Influence follows close upon the heels of character; and whatever we are, that we shall in the end be acknowledged to be.