Men Are Never Very Wise And Select

The Reveries Of Youth, In Which So Much Energy Is Wasted, Are The Yearnings Of A Spirit Made For What It Has Not Found But Must Forever Seek As An Ideal

The Cry Has Been That When War Is Declared, All Opposition Should Therefore Be Hushed. A Sentiment More Unworthy Of A Free Country Could Hardly Be Propagated. If The Doctrine Be Admitted, Rulers Have Only To Declare War And They Are Screened At Once From Scrutiny. . . . In War, Then, As In Peace, Assert The Freedom Of Speech And Of The Press. Cling To This As The Bulwark Of All Our Rights And Privileges.

God Be Thanked For Books; They Are The Voices Of The Distant And The Dead, And Make Us Heirs Of The Spiritual Life Of Past Ages.

The Sin That Now Rises To Memory As Your Bosom Sin, Let This First Of All Be Withstood And Mastered. Oppose It Instantly By A Detestation Of It, By A Firm Will To Conquer It, By Reflection, By Reason, And By Prayer.

A General Loftiness Of Sentiment, Independence Of Men, Consciousness Of Good Intentions, Self-oblivion In Great Objects, Clear Views Of Futurity; Thoughts Of The Blessed Companionship Of Saints And Angels, Trust In God As The Friend Of Truth And Virtue,--these Are The States Of Mind In Which I Should Live.