“Let no one despise any means by which the intellect of a boy may be widened or strengthened.”

Advocating a broad and humane education · Autobiographical fragment, Chapter III (published posthumously, 1877)

• Childhood
• Education

“What teacher has ever endeavored to instil into his pupils the value of weeds or grasses, of animal or vegetable nature... the wonders of space, or of the seasons; of night, of silence?”

Calling for education to include wonder, observation and silence · Autobiographical fragment, Chapter III (published posthumously, 1877)

• Education
• Nature

“The surrounding natures must catch a portion of it, as of a portion of the sun or air, and diffuse it in their turn.”

Describing goodness as something naturally shared and renewed · Autobiographical fragment, Chapter I (published posthumously, 1877)

• Hope
• Kindness
• Nature