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If we stay in process, within ourselves, in the joy of the doing, we will never choke at the finish line.

There are men in whose presence the greatest of heroes would not dare to be silent; and even the soul that has nothing to conceal trembles lest another should discover its secret.

Fear is more importunate and insupportable than death itself

Whoever expects punishment already suffers it, and whoever has deserved it expects it.

Wherever the mind is perplexed, it is in an entire disorder, and domestic employments are not less troublesome for being less important.

Here we see how hurtful it is for a prince or commonwealth to keep the minds of their subjects in constant alarm and suspense by continually renewed punishments and violence.

Therefore, if he who rules a principality cannot recognize evils until they are upon him, he is not truly wise; and this insight is given to few.

Great cases, like hard cases, make bad law. For great cases are called great, not by reason of their real importance in shaping the law of the future, but because of some accident of immediate overwhelming interest which appeals to the feelings and distorts the judgment.

Uncertainty gives fear a chance to get in its deadly work on the imagination and make cowards of us.

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

the foolish overlook and neglect present blessings, through their thoughts being ever intent on the future; but the wise make the past clearly present to them through memory

the immoderate desire for each, implanting a most immoderate fear of losing them, makes the enjoyment of them weak and wavering, like a flame under the influence of a wind

Fear is an instructor of great sagacity and the herald of all revolutions.

One protects himself by solitude, and one by courtesy, and one by an acid, worldly manner,--each concealing how he can the thinness of his skin and his incapacity for strict association.

To be beautiful and to be calm, without mental fear, is the ideal of nature. If I cannot achieve it, at least I can think it.

These rough notes and our dead bodies must tell the tale, but surely, surely, a great rich country like ours will see that those who are dependent on us are properly provided for.

The disturbers of our happiness, in this world, are our desires, our griefs, and our fears; and to all these, the consideration of mortality is a certain and adequate remedy.

Evil is uncertain in the same degree as good, and for the reason that we ought not to hope too securely, we ought not to fear with too much dejection.

Futurity is the proper abode of hope and fear, with all their train and progeny of subordinate apprehensions and desires.

A good conscience fears no witnesses, but a guilty conscience is solicitous even of solitude.

Beside, that the ills which he fears he may suffer, he suffers in the very fear of them.

Can there be any man so fearful, that had not rather fall once than hang always in suspense?

How many casualties and difficulties are there that we dread as insupportable mischiefs, which, upon farther thoughts, we find to be mercies and benefits?

If we do not watch, we lose our opportunities; if we do not make haste, we are left behind; our best hours escape us, the worst are to come.