What we gave, we have; What we spent, we had; What we left, we lost.

Age does not depend upon years, but upon temperament and health. Some men are born old, and some never grow so.

Compromise is but the sacrifice of one right or good in the hope of retaining another - too often ending in the loss of both.

Between two evils, choose neither; between two goods, choose both.

Any act often repeated soon forms a habit; and habit allowed, steady gains in strength, At first it may be but as a spider's web, easily broken through, but if not resisted it soon binds us with chains of steel.

Seek happiness for its own sake, and you will not find it; seek for duty, and happiness will follow as the shadow comes with the sunshine.

Science has sometimes been said to be opposed to faith, and inconsistent with it. But all science, in fact, rests on a basis of faith, for it assumes the permanence and uniformity of natural laws - a thing which can never be demonstrated.

To rejoice in another's prosperity is to give content to your lot; to mitigate another's grief is to alleviate or dispel your own.

What we gave, we have; What we spent, we had; What we left, we lost.

We weep over the graves of infants and the little ones taken from us by death; but an early grave may be the shortest way to heaven.

To be good, we must do good; and by doing good we take a sure means of being good, as the use and exercise of the muscles increase their power.

Some men are born old, and some men never seem so. If we keep well and cheerful, we are always young and at last die in youth even when in years would count as old.

Right actions in the future are the best apologies for bad actions in the past.

Accuracy of statement is one of the first elements of truth; inaccuracy is a near kin to falsehood.

Credulity is belief in slight evidence, with no evidence, or against evidence.

He that never changes his opinion never corrects mistakes and will never be wiser on the morrow than he is today.

People never improve unless they look to some standard or example higher or better than themselves.

High aims form high characters, and great objects bring out great minds.

Most controversies would soon be ended, if those engaged in them would first accurately define their terms, and then adhere to their definitions.

We should be as careful of the books we read, as of the company we keep. The dead very often have more power than the living.

To waken interest and kindle enthusiasm is the sure way to teach easily and successfully.

Facts are God's arguments; we should be careful never to misunderstand or pervert them.

Mystery is but another name for ignorance; if we were omniscient, all would be perfectly plain!

Sinful and forbidden pleasures are like poisoned bread; they may satisfy appetite for the moment, but there is death in them at the end.

One of the great lessons the fall of the leaf teaches, is this: do your work well and then be ready to depart when God shall call.

The great end of education is to discipline rather than to furnish the mind; to train it to the use of its own powers, rather than fill it with the accumulation of others.

To rule one's anger is well; to prevent it is better.

Every parting is a form of death, as every reunion is a type of heaven.

Age does not depend upon years, but upon temperament and health. Some men are born old, and some never grow up.

Compromise is but the sacrifice of one right or good in the hope of retaining another too often ending in the loss of both.

Quiet and sincere sympathy is often the most welcome and efficient consolation to the afflicted. Said a wise man to one in deep sorrow I did not come to comfort you God only can do that but I did come to say how deeply and tenderly I feel for you in your affliction.

We weep over the graves of infants and the little ones taken from us by death but an early grave may be the shortest way to heaven.

Where duty is plain delay is both foolish and hazardous where it is not delay may provide both wisdom and safety.

Where duty is plain delay is both foolish and hazardous where it is not delay may be both wisdom and safety.

To be good we must do good and by doing good we take a sure means of being good as the use and exercise of the muscles increase their power.

Every parting is a form of death as every reunion is a type of heaven.

Sinful and forbidden pleasures are like poisoned bread they may satisfy appetite for the moment but there is death in them at the end.

High aims form high characters and great objects bring out great minds.

Credulity is belief in slight evidence with no evidence or against evidence.

Happiness is like manna it is to be gathered in grains and enjoyed every day. It will not keep it cannot be accumulated nor have we got to go out of ourselves or into remote places to gather it since it has rained down from a Heaven at our very door.

True humility is not an abject groveling self despising spirit it is but a right estimate of ourselves as God sees us.

There is often as much independence in not being led, as in not being driven.

To waken interest and kindle enthusiasm is the sure way to teach easily and successfully.

Have a time and place for everything, and do everything in its time and place, and you will not only accomplish more, but have far more leisure than those who are always hurrying.

Superstitions are, for the most part, but the shadows of great truths.

High aims form high characters, and great objects bring out great minds.

If you would thoroughly know anything, teach it to others.

Hell is truth seen too late - duty neglected in its season.

Poems, for me, begin as a social engagement. I want to establish a kind of sociability or even hospitality at the beginning of a poem. The title and the first few lines are a kind of welcome mat where I am inviting the reader inside.