If I could choose a young man’s companions, some should be weaker than himself, that he might learn patience and charity;  many should be as nearly as possible his equals, that he might have the full freedom of friendship;  but most should be stronger than he was, that he might for ever be thinking humbly of himself and be tempted to higher things.

Note what the great men admired – they admired great things;  narrow spirits admire basely, and worship meanly.

IT requires but little knowledge of society and history to assure us of the strong permeating invisible influence upon society at large of any body of men of clear thought, strong conviction, and disciplined conduct. 

Do we not all know how apt we are to become like those whom we see, with whom we spend our hours, and, above all, like those whom we admire and honour?   For good and for evil, alas!

THE best we can do for each other is to remove unnecessary obstacles, and the worst – to weaken any of the motives which urge us to strive.