Thought and theory must precede all salutary action; yet action is nobler in itself than either thought or theory.

Arts and Artists

Is there not an art, a music, and a stream of words that shalt be life, the acknowledged voice of life?

Childhood

Heaven lies about us in our infancy! Shades of the prison-house begin to close upon the growing boy.

Contemplation

With an eye made quiet by the power of harmony, and the deep power of joy, we see into the life of things.

Defeat

For by superior energies; more strict affiance in each other; faith more firm in their unhallowed principles, the bad have fairly earned a victory over the weak, the vacillating, inconsistent good.

Freedom

How does the Meadow flower its bloom unfold? Because the lovely little flower is free down to its root, and in that freedom bold.

Idols

Rapine, avarice, expense, This is idolatry; and these we adore; Plain living and high thinking are no more.

Mind

Not Chaos, not the darkest pit of lowest Erebus, nor aught of blinder vacancy, scooped out by help of dreams --can breed such fear and awe as fall upon us often when we look into our Minds, into the Mind of Man.

Nature

For I have learned to look on nature, not as in the hour of thoughtless youth, but hearing oftentimes the still, sad music of humanity.

Perseverance

Neither evil tongues, rash judgments, nor the sneers of selfish men, nor greetings where no kindness is, nor all the dreary intercourse of daily life, shall ever prevail against us.

Service

Small service is true service, while it lasts.