The presence of a noble nature, generous in its wishes, ardent in its charity, changes the lights for us: we begin to see things again in their larger, quieter masses, and to believe that we too can be seen and judged in the wholeness of our character.

But that intimacy of mutual embarrassment, in which each feels that the other is feeling something, having once existed, its effect is not to be done away with.

Among all forms of mistake, prophecy is the most gratuitous.

Would not love see returning penitence afar off, and fall on its neck and kiss it?

A patronizing disposition always has its meaner side.