It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to, than I have ever known.
Charles Dickens
Have a heart that never hardens, and a temper that never tires, and a touch that never hurts.
We forge the chains we wear in life.
There are dark shadows on the earth, but its lights are stronger in the contrast.
The pain of parting is nothing to the joy of meeting again.
No one is useless in this world who lightens the burden of it to anyone else.
A loving heart is the truest wisdom.
It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade.
Reflect upon your present blessings of which every man has many - not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.
Nature gives to every time and season some beauties of its own; and from morning to night, as from the cradle to the grave, it is but a succession of changes so gentle and easy that we can scarcely mark their progress.
If there were no bad people, there would be no good lawyers.
Electric communication will never be a substitute for the face of someone who with their soul encourages another person to be brave and true.
A wonderful fact to reflect upon, that every human creature is constituted to be that profound secret and mystery to every other.
I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.
A day wasted on others is not wasted on one's self.
It is a melancholy truth that even great men have their poor relations.
I never could have done what I have done without the habits of punctuality, order, and diligence, without the determination to concentrate myself on one subject at a time.
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.
The whole difference between construction and creation is exactly this: that a thing constructed can only be loved after it is constructed; but a thing created is loved before it exists.
Home is a name, a word, it is a strong one; stronger than magician ever spoke, or spirit ever answered to, in the strongest conjuration.
Charity begins at home, and justice begins next door.
There is a wisdom of the head, and a wisdom of the heart.
Life is made of ever so many partings welded together.
Whatever I have tried to do in life, I have tried with all my heart to do it well; whatever I have devoted myself to, I have devoted myself completely; in great aims and in small I have always thoroughly been in earnest.
Happy, happy Christmas, that can win us back to the delusions of our childhood days, recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth, and transport the traveler back to his own fireside and quiet home!
The first rule of business is: Do other men for they would do you.
I only ask to be free. The butterflies are free.
Fan the sinking flame of hilarity with the wing of friendship; and pass the rosy wine.
There are books of which the backs and covers are by far the best parts.
An idea, like a ghost, must be spoken to a little before it will explain itself.
The men who learn endurance, are they who call the whole world, brother.
He would make a lovely corpse.
In the little world in which children have their existence, whosoever brings them up, there is nothing so finely perceived and so finely felt, as injustice.
Regrets are the natural property of grey hairs.
The one great principle of English law is to make business for itself.
Subdue your appetites, my dears, and you've conquered human nature.
This is a world of action, and not for moping and droning in.
Little Red Riding Hood was my first love. I felt that if I could have married Little Red Riding Hood, I should have known perfect bliss.
The age of chivalry is past. Bores have succeeded to dragons.
I have known a vast quantity of nonsense talked about bad men not looking you in the face. Don't trust that conventional idea. Dishonesty will stare honesty out of countenance any day in the week, if there is anything to be got by it.
Let us be moral. Let us contemplate existence.
There are only two styles of portrait painting; the serious and the smirk.
To conceal anything from those to whom I am attached, is not in my nature. I can never close my lips where I have opened my heart.
The civility which money will purchase, is rarely extended to those who have none.
We are so very 'umble.
Vices are sometimes only virtues carried to excess!
There are strings in the human heart that had better not be vibrated.
Credit is a system whereby a person who can not pay gets another person who can not pay to guarantee that he can pay.
There is nothing so strong or safe in an emergency of life as the simple truth.
It opens the lungs, washes the countenance, exercises the eyes, and softens down the temper; so cry away.