I HAVE addressed this volume to those who think, and some may accuse me of an ostentatious independence in presuming to inscribe a book to so small a minority. But a volume addressed to those who think is in fact addressed to all the world; for although the proportion of those who do think be extremely small, yet every individual flatters himself that he is one of the number.-Colton, Lacon. Why are not more gems from our great authors scattered over the country? Great books are not in everybody's reach; and though it is better to know them thoroughly than to know them only here and there, yet it is a good work to give a little to those who have neither time nor means to get more. Let every bookworm, when in any fragrant scarce old tome he discovers a sentence, a story, an illustration, that does his heart good, hasten to give it.COLERIDGE. Thoughts from Great Authors. Action. No two things differ more than hurry and despatch. Hurry is the mark of a weak mind; despatch of a strong one. -Colton, Lacon. Suit the action to the word, the word to the action, with this special observance, that you o'er-step not the modesty of nature. Hamlet, Act 2, Scene 3. Doing good is the only certainly happy action of a man's life.-Sir P. Sidney. Why are not more gems from our great authors scattered over the country? Great books are not in everybody's reach; and though it is better to know them thoroughly than to know them only here and there, yet it is a good work to give a little to those who have neither time nor means to get more. Let every bookworm, when in any fragrant scarce old tome he discovers a sentence, a story, an illustration, that does his heart good, hasten to give it.COLERIDGE. |