If he kicks small animals, swears violently at a servant who mistakes orders, or is grossly rude to his wife, it is remarked apologetically that these things mean nothing – they are all temper.

WE may be somewhat surprised when we discover how precisely Pascal, or Shakspeare, or Montaigne, can put his finger on our weak point, or tell us the truth about some moral lameness or disorder of which we, perhaps, were beginning to accept a more lenient and comfortable diagnosis.

IT is a mood which severs a man from thoughts of God, and suffers him not to be calm and kindly to his brethren.

YOU find yourself refreshed by the presence of cheerful people.  Why not make earnest effort to confer that pleasure on others? 

TRY it for a day, I beseech you, to preserve yourself in an easy and cheerful frame of mind.

…depression always implies physical or moral weakness, and is therefore never to be tolerated so long as one can struggle against it.

…most nervous, irritable states of temper are the mere physical result of a used-up condition.

Our friends are nice people, after all;  the little things that annoyed us look ridiculous by bright sunshine; and we are fortunate individuals.

How can we live and think that any one has trouble – piercing trouble – and we could help them and never try?

‘My dear sir, there are times when I know I am possessed of the Devil, and then I never let myself speak!’