I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestionable ability of a man to elevate his life by a conscious endeavor. It is something to be able to paint a particular picture, or to carve a statue, and so make a few objects beautiful; but it is far more glorious to carve and paint the very atmosphere and medium through which we look, which morally we can do.
—Henry D. Thoreau.
Much which we think essential is merely a matter of habit.
—Thomas Wentworth Higginson.
The royal road to success is to obey the inner genius, to act in accordance with one’s own intuition, regardless of the fear or favor of those who are bound to the wheel of conventional consistency.
—Lilian Whiting.
Act well at the moment, and you have performed a good action for all eternity.
—Lavater.
New occasions teach new duties;
Time makes ancient good uncouth;