Amos Bronson Alcott

The true teacher defends his pupils against his own personal influence. He inspires self-trust. He guides their eyes from himself to the spirit that quickens him. He will have no disciples.

A true teacher defends his students against his own personal influences.

Success is sweet and sweeter if long delayed and gotten through many struggles and defeats.

Strengthen me by sympathizing with my strength, not my weakness.

The less routine the more life.

Our ideals are our better selves.

Where there is a mother in the home, matters go well.

Our friends interpret the world and ourselves to us, if we take them tenderly and truly.

Our notion of the perfect society embraces the family as its center and ornament, and this paradise is not secure until children appear to animate and complete the picture.

We climb to heaven most often on the ruins of our cherished plans, finding our failures were successes.

Observation more than books and experience more than persons, are the prime educators.

Our dreams drench us in senses, and senses steps us again in dreams.

A government, for protecting business only, is but a carcass, and soon falls by its own corruption and decay.

While one finds company in himself and his pursuits, he cannot feel old, no matter what his years may be.

To keep the heart unwrinkled, to be hopeful, kindly, cheerful, reverent that is to triumph over old age.