James Russell Lowell

God'll send the bill to you.

Not failure but low aim is crime.

All the beautiful sentiments in the world weigh less than a single lovely action.

Three-fifths of him genius and two-fifths sheer fudge.

Talent is that which is in a man's power genius is that in whose power a man is.

Good heavens of what uncostly material is our earthly happiness composed ... if we only knew it. What incomes have we not had from a flower and how unfailing are the dividends of the seasons.

The right to be a cussed fool Is safe from all devices human It's common (ez a gin'I rule) To every critter born of woman.

The only faith that wears well and holds its color in all weather is that which is woven of conviction.

Faith is that which is woven of conviction and set with the sharp mordant of experience.

One thorn of experience is worth a whole wilderness of warning.

Once to every man and nation comes the moment to decide ... And the choice goes by forever t'wixt that darkness and that light.

Nature fits all her children with something to do He who would write and can't write can surely review.

Darkness is strong and so is Sin But surely God endures forever!

Nature they say doth dote And cannot make a man Save on some worn-out plan Repeating us by rote.

The foolish and the dead alone never change their opinion.

In creating the only hard thing's to begin A grass-blade's no easier to make than an oak.

Fate loves the fearless.

Compromise makes a good umbrella but a poor roof it is a temporary expedient often wise in party politics almost sure to be unwise in statesmanship.