246 Quotes by Christian N. Bovee

The first step toward greatness is to be honest, says the proverb; but the proverb fails to state the case strong enough. Honesty is not only “the first step toward greatness,” it is greatness itself.

Luminous quotations, also, atone, by their interest, for the dulness of an inferior book, and add to the value of a superior work by the variety which they lend to its style and treatment.

To death we owe our life; the passing of one generation opens a way for another.

The nearest approximation to an understanding of life is to feel it – to realize it to the full – to be a profound and inscrutable mystery.

Passion looks not beyond the moment of its existence. Better, it says, the kisses of love to day, than the felicities of heaven afar off.

Example has far more followers than reason.

Beauty can afford to laugh at distinctions: it is itself the greatest distinction.

Nature has provided for the exigency of privation, by putting the measure of our necessities far below the measure of our wants. Our necessities are to our wants as Falstaff’s pennyworth of bread to his any quantity of sack.

Woman’s power is over the affections. A beautiful dominion is hers; but she risks its forfeiture when she seeks to extend it.