Contrast is needed to help us see each thing as being vividly itself.

From a spiritual point of view, he who is proud of his intelligence, talent or voice, and never thanks God for them is a robber; he has taken gifts from God and never recognized the Giver.

Contentment is not an innate virtue. It is acquired through great resolution and diligence in conquering unruly desires;

neither was happy, because God originally had given each a place according to his ability, one that best suited his own nature.

The best view is from the mountain-top, but it may be arduous to reach it.

No One is dangerously unhappy except the individual who does not know what happiness means.

A cheerful heart always finds a yoke easy and a burden light.

No earthly happiness would be permanent or thorough if it were not associated with a good conscience.

If joy be uncommon today it is because there are timid souls who have not the courage to forget themselves and to make sacrifices for their neighbor, or else because the narrower sympathies make the brighter things of the world to come, appear as vanities.