Reform is born of need, not pity. No vital movement of the people has worked down, for good or evil; read more

Reform is born of need, not pity. No vital movement of the people has worked down, for good or evil; fermented, instead, carried up the heaving, cloggy mass.

Grant that the old Adam in these persons may be so buried, that
the new man may be raised read more

Grant that the old Adam in these persons may be so buried, that
the new man may be raised up in them.

Cautious, careful people, always casting about to preserve their
reputation and social standing, never can bring about a reform. read more

Cautious, careful people, always casting about to preserve their
reputation and social standing, never can bring about a reform.
Those who are really in earnest must be willing to be anything or
nothing in the world's estimation.

Nothing so needs reforming as other people's habits.

Nothing so needs reforming as other people's habits.

All reformers are bachelors.

All reformers are bachelors.

At twenty a man is full of fight and hope. He wants to reform the world. When he is seventy read more

At twenty a man is full of fight and hope. He wants to reform the world. When he is seventy he still wants to reform the world, but he knows he can't.

The hole and the patch should be commensurate.

The hole and the patch should be commensurate.

My desolation does begin to make
A better life.

My desolation does begin to make
A better life.

Every reform, however necessary, will by weak minds be carried to an excess which will itself need reforming.

Every reform, however necessary, will by weak minds be carried to an excess which will itself need reforming.