He that is possessed with a prejudice is possessed with a devil, and one of the worst kinds of devils, for it shuts out the truth, and often leads to ruinous error

Prejudices are rarely overcome by argument; not being founded in reason they cannot be destroyed by logic

To be good, we must do good and by doing good we take a sure means of being good, as the use and exercise of the muscles increase their power

The first step to improvement, whether mental, moral, or religious, is to know ourselves - our weakness,errors, deficiencies, and sins, that, by divine grace, we may overcome and turn from them all

Mystery is another name for our ignorance; if we were omniscient, all would be perfectly plain

We never reach our ideals, whether of mental or moral improvement, but the thought of them shows us our deficiencies, and spurs us on to higher and better things

Hell is truth seen too late - duty neglected in its season

To rejoice in another's prosperity is to give content to your lot to mitigate another's grief is to alleviate or dispel your own

Seek happiness for its own sake, and you will not find it; seek for duty, and happiness will follow as the shadow comes with the sunshine

The first evil choice or act is linked to the second; and each one to the one that follows, both by the tendency of our evil nature and by the power of habit, which holds us as by a destiny