Secrecy is the element of all goodness; even virtue, even beauty is mysterious.

Doubt, of whatever kind, can be ended by action alone.

Every day that is born into the world comes like a burst of music and rings the whole day through, and you make of it a dance, a dirge, or a life march, as you will.

No great man lives in vain. The history of the world is but the biography of great men.

Work alone is noble.

He who has health, has hope; and he who has hope, has everything.

History, a distillation of rumour.

Wonder is the basis of worship.

Humor has justly been regarded as the finest perfection of poetic genius.

The real use of gunpowder is to make all men tall.

Work alone is noble.

The only happiness a brave person ever troubles themselves in asking about, is happiness enough to get their work done.

Wondrous is the strength of cheerfulness, and its power of endurance - the cheerful man will do more in the same time, will do it; better, will preserve it longer, than the sad or sullen.

Imagination is a poor matter when it has to part company with understanding.

There are good and bad times, but our mood changes more often than our fortune.

The three great elements of modern civilization, Gun powder, Printing, and the Protestant religion.

I've got a great ambition to die of exhaustion rather than boredom.

Endurance is patience concentrated.

If you look deep enough you will see music; the heart of nature being everywhere music.

In the long-run every Government is the exact symbol of its People, with their wisdom and unwisdom; we have to say, Like People like Government.

The work an unknown good man has done is like a vein of water flowing hidden underground, secretly making the ground green.

Clever men are good, but they are not the best.

The courage we desire and prize is not the courage to die decently, but to live manfully.

Music is well said to be the speech of angels.

Old age is not a matter for sorrow. It is matter for thanks if we have left our work done behind us.

The first duty of man is to conquer fear; he must get rid of it, he cannot act till then.

Blessed is he who has found his work; let him ask no other blessedness.

The fearful unbelief is unbelief in yourself.

Permanence, perseverance and persistence in spite of all obstacles, discouragements, and impossibilities: It is this, that in all things distinguishes the strong soul from the weak.

The old cathedrals are good, but the great blue dome that hangs over everything is better.