Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens. And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.—Washington.
"When I was young, I was sure of many things; there are only two things of which I am sure now; one is, that I am a miserable sinner; and the other, that Jesus Christ is an all sufficient Saviour." He is well taught who gets these two lessons.—John Newton.
If we make religion our business, God will make it our blessedness.—H.G.J. Adam.
The call to religion is not a call to be better than your fellows, but to be better than yourself. Religion is relative to the individual.—Beecher.
Remembrance.—Remembrance is the only paradise out of which we cannot be driven away.—Richter.
You can't order remembrance out of the mind; and a wrong that was a wrong yesterday must be a wrong to-morrow.—Thackeray.
I cannot but remember such things were
That were most precious to me.
—Shakespeare.
Remorse.—Remorse is the punishment of crime; repentance, its expiation. The former appertains to a tormented conscience; the latter to a soul changed for the better.—Joubert.
Remorse, the fatal egg by pleasure laid,
In every bosom where her nest is made,
Hatched by the beams of truth, denies him rest,
And proves a raging scorpion in his breast.
—Cowper.
We can prostrate ourselves in the dust when we have committed a fault, but it is not best to remain there.—Chateaubriand.