American author (1820-1904)
Tears are Nature's lotion for the eyes. The eyes see better for being washed with them.
CHRISTIAN NESTELL BOVEE
Intuitions and Summaries of Thought
The natural wants are few, and easily gratified: it is only those which are artificial that perplex us by their multiplicity.
CHRISTIAN NESTELL BOVEE
Intuitions and Summaries of Thought
A mother's love is indeed the golden link that binds youth to age, and he is still but a child, however time may have furrowed his cheek, or silvered his brow, who can yet recall, with a softened heart, the fond devotion, or the gentle chidings, of the best friend that God ever gives us.
CHRISTIAN NESTELL BOVEE
Intuitions and Summaries of Thought
However much of time, labor, or other means it takes to establish a reputation, it frequently happens that it requires nearly as much to maintain it. One who has written a good book, is expected on all occasions to "talk like a book." Or, if one has achieved an act of heroism, he is expected to perform acts of heroism for the edification of all who approach him. There are people who can never believe they see a lion unless they hear him roar.
CHRISTIAN NESTELL BOVEE
Intuitions and Summaries of Thought
The method of the enterprising is to plan with audacity, and execute with vigor; to sketch out a map of possibilities, and then to treat them as probabilities.
CHRISTIAN NESTELL BOVEE
Thoughts, Feelings and Fancies
The best evidence of merit is a cordial recognition of it whenever and wherever found.
CHRISTIAN NESTELL BOVEE
Intuitions and Summaries of Thought
Every war involves a greater or less relapse into barbarism. War, indeed, in its details, is the essence of inhumanity. It dehumanizes. It may save the state, but it destroys the citizen.
CHRISTIAN NESTELL BOVEE
Intuitions and Summaries of Thought
Nothing is so fragile as thought in its infancy; an interruption breaks it: nothing is so powerful, even to overturning empires, when it reaches its maturity.
CHRISTIAN NESTELL BOVEE
Intuitions and Summaries of Thought
It is curious to what a degree one may become attached to a fine tree, especially when it is placed where trees are rare.
CHRISTIAN NESTELL BOVEE
Intuitions and Summaries of Thought
By his provocations to good-natured merriment, a humorist of the first water contributes as much to the sum of happiness as the gravest philosopher.
CHRISTIAN NESTELL BOVEE
Intuitions and Summaries of Thought
The cause of laziness is physiological; it is an infirmity of the constitution, and its victim is as much to be pitied as a sufferer from any other constitutional infirmity. It is even worse than many other diseases; from them the patient may recover, while this is incurable.
CHRISTIAN NESTELL BOVEE
Intuitions and Summaries of Thought
A woman's love, like lichens upon a rock, will still grow where even charity can find no soil to nurture itself.
CHRISTIAN NESTELL BOVEE
Intuitions and Summaries of Thought
The light in the world comes principally from two sources, the sun and the student's lamp.
CHRISTIAN NESTELL BOVEE
Intuitions and Summaries of Thought
Within the sacred walls of libraries we find the best thoughts, the purest feelings, and the most exalted imaginings of our race.
CHRISTIAN NESTELL BOVEE
attributed, Day's Collacon
Logic invents as many fallacies as it detects; it is a good weapon, but as liable to be used in a bad as in a good cause.
CHRISTIAN NESTELL BOVEE
attributed, Day's Collacon
Wit never appears to greater advantage than when it is successfully exerted to relieve from a dilemma, palliate a deficiency, or cover a retreat.
CHRISTIAN NESTELL BOVEE
Intuitions and Summaries of Thought
Sorrow is never more sorrowful than when it jests at its own misery.
CHRISTIAN NESTELL BOVEE
Intuitions and Summaries of Thought
Organizations are for weak men, who are nothing individually, but collectively of some importance; strong men have less need of them, except to rule or use them.
CHRISTIAN NESTELL BOVEE
attributed, Day's Collacon
Besides its other admirable properties, light has that of developing the feelings. That it has this power is indicated by the poets, in their frequent use of such phrases as "the cheerful light of morn," "a dim religious light," "the purple light of love," "the tender light of the moon," and so on, through a long series of descriptive expressions, ending with that delicious one of Mrs. Norton, "the love light in her eye." Again: Place a number of persons in a room dimly lighted, and they will become taciturn and moody; put the light altogether out, and they will fall asleep; then awaken and lead them into a chamber brilliantly lighted, and they will probably soon become full of animation.
CHRISTIAN NESTELL BOVEE
Intuitions and Summaries of Thought
Spiritual high water mark is seldom if ever attained except by a gradual rise in the tide of principle.
CHRISTIAN NESTELL BOVEE
attributed, Day's Collacon