C.N. Douglas, comp. Forty Thousand Quotations: Prose and Poetical. 1917.
James Freeman Clarke
A politician thinks of the next election; a statesman, of the next generation.
All the strength and force of man comes from his faith in things unseen. He who believes is strong; he who doubts is weak. Strong conviction precede great actions. The man strongly possessed of an idea is the master of all who are uncertain or wavering. Clear, deep, living convictions rule the world.
Art itself, in all its methods, is the child of religion. The highest and best works in architecture, sculpture and painting, poetry and music, have been born out of the religion of Nature.
Conscience in the soul is the root of all true courage. If a man would be brave, let him learn to obey his conscience.
It is so natural for a man to pray that no theory can prevent him from doing it.
Religion is life, philosophy is thought; religion looks up, friendship looks in. We need both thought and life, and we need that the two shall be in harmony.
This is the way to cultivate courage: First, by standing firm on some conscientious principle, some law of duty. Next, by being faithful to truth and right on small occasions and common events. Third, by trusting in God for help and power.
Unmixed praise is not due to any one. It leaves behind a sense of unreality. We can only do justice to a great man by a discriminating criticism. Hero-worship, which paints a faultless monster, whom the world never saw, is like those modern pictures which are a blaze of light without any shadow.
Variety is the condition of harmony.
We are either progressing or retrograding all the while; there is no such thing as remaining stationary in this life.
When we trust our brother, whom we have seen, we are learning to trust God, whom we have not seen.