Excerpts from the Book 'Essays First Series':

... in one man's mind, and when the same thought occurs to another man, it is the key to that era. Every reform was once a private opinion, and when it ...
... and Biography deep and sublime. As the Persian imitated in the slender shafts and capitals of his architecture the stem and flower of the lotus and palm, ...
... are the voices which we hear in solitude, but they grow faint and inaudible as we enter into the world. Society everywhere is in conspiracy against ...
... in the world a sort of sot, but now and then wakes up, exercises his reason and finds himself a true prince. Our reading is mendicant and sycophantic. ...
... any man consider the present aspects of what is called by distinction society, he will see the need of these ethics. The sinew and heart of man ...
... own.-Bad counsel confounds the adviser.-The Devil is an ass. It is thus written, because it is thus in life. Our action is overmastered and characterized ...
... unhurt. Neither vexations nor calamities abate our trust. No man ever stated his griefs as lightly as he might. Allow for exaggeration in the most patient ...
... to his nature and genius the man has the highest right. Everywhere he may take what belongs to his spiritual estate, nor can he take any thing ...
... The most fugitive deed and word, the mere air of doing a thing, the intimated purpose, expresses character. If you act you show character if you sit ...
... and heartily will he know where to find a sincere and sweet mate, without any risk such as Milton deplores as incident to scholars and great men. I ...
... festoons we cut the stem short. And I must hazard the production of the bald fact amidst these pleasing reveries, though it should prove an ...
... not with yourself but with your lustres, and I shall not be able any more than now to converse with you. So I will owe to my friends this evanescent ...
... is perforce a householder. He must brew, bake, salt and preserve his food, and pile wood and coal. But as it happens that not one stroke can labor lay ...
... or divines. It is the avowal of the unschooled man that he finds a quality in him that is negligent of expense, of health, of life, of danger, of hatred, ...
... not a faculty, but a light is not the intellect or the will, but the master of the intellect and the will is the background of our being, in which ...
... and tender heart in thee craveth, shall lock thee in his embrace. And this because the heart in thee is the heart of all not a valve, not a wall, not ...
... The only sin is limitation. As soon as you once come up with a man's limitations, it is all over with him. Has he talents? has he enterprise? ...
... after it has come to reflection or conscious thought. In the most worn, pedantic, introverted self-tormenter's life, the greatest part is incalculable ...
... statue, picture, park and hall, Ballad, flag and festival, The past restore, the day adorn And make each morrow a new morn So shall the drudge in ...
... for readers of all ages. Most of them recount traditional legends and tales from many cultures. Included are also stories inspired by the author's personal ...