To those who do not love God, all things must work together immediately for pain and torment, until, by means of the tribulation, they are led to salvation at last.

Upon the progress of knowledge the whole progress of the human race is immediately dependent: he who retards that, hinders this also.

By philosophy the mind of man comes to itself, and from henceforth rests on itself without foreign aid, and is completely master of itself, as the dancer of his feet, or the boxer of his hands.

What sort of philosophy one chooses depends on what sort of person one is.

The schools must fashion the person, and fashion him in such a way that he simply cannot will otherwise than what you wish him to will.

We do not act because we know, but we know because we are called upon to act; the practical reason is the root of all reason.

I know what I can know, and am not troubled about what I cannot know.

Nothing is more destructive of individual character than for a man to lose all faith in his own abilities for the prosecution of his work.

A man can do what he ought to do; and when he says he cannot, it is because he will not.

My mind can take no hold on the present world, nor rest in it a moment, but my whole nature rushes onward with irresistible force towards a future and better state of being.

God is not the mere dead conception to which we have thus given utterance, but he is in himself pure Life.

It is a rule of leading people, Gideon. You may be confused, or afraid, or overwhelmed, or all three—those who depend on you must never see it.

True giving is not what goes on when the cameras are rolling-but what goes on in the heart.

People acceptin' me for me, people lovin' my music was big for me.

My mother kept the house clean and we ate good. I didn't know we were poor until I started giving interviews.

True knowledge is when one knows the limitations of one's knowledge.

Character contributes to beauty.

Your mercies are more than your afflictions.

I would worry if I wasn't coming up with ideas, if I wasn't inspired.

People carry their secrets in hidden places, not on their faces. They carry suffering on their faces. Also bitterness if there’s room.

I hate to tell you, but it's not always pretty up there on Capitol Hill and there have been other scandals as you know that have been more than simply naughty e-mails.