“Never take a mean advantage of anyone in any transaction, and never be hard upon people who are in your power.”

Giving concise ethical advice about fairness and the use of power · Letter to Edward Bulwer Lytton Dickens, 1868

• Friendship
• Truth

“There is success in all honest endeavour, and there is some victory gained in every gallant struggle that is made.”

Finding genuine achievement in sincere effort even without first prize · Speech, Birmingham and Midland Institute, 6 January 1870

• Hope
• Struggle

“It is a society in which the word exclusiveness is wholly unknown.”

Praising an institution for rejecting narrow privilege · Speech, London, 14 April 1851

• Friendship
• Truth