CHRISTIAN NESTELL BOVEE QUOTES V

American author (1820-1904)

Habits influence the character pretty much as undercurrents influence a vessel, and whether they speed us on the way of our wishes, or retard our progress, their influence is not the less important because imperceptible.

CHRISTIAN NESTELL BOVEE

Intuitions and Summaries of Thought


Fortune, like a coy mistress, loves to yield her favors, though she makes us wrest them from her.

CHRISTIAN NESTELL BOVEE

Intuitions and Summaries of Thought


Fame: A few words upon a tombstone, and the truth of those not to be depended on.

CHRISTIAN NESTELL BOVEE

Intuitions and Summaries of Thought


Evils are to be traced to their sources, and struck at there. Like Barbary pirates, they are to be destroyed through the suppression of the state that sends them forth.

CHRISTIAN NESTELL BOVEE

Intuitions and Summaries of Thought


Besides the five senses, there is a sixth sense, of equal importance--the sense of duty.

CHRISTIAN NESTELL BOVEE

Intuitions and Summaries of Thought


As well might a flower complain of the bee which its sweetness attracts, as a pretty girl of being gazed at when she goes abroad. But the complaint is seldom made in earnest.

CHRISTIAN NESTELL BOVEE

Intuitions and Summaries of Thought


Ambition, in one respect, is like a singer's voice; pitched at too high a key, it breaks and comes to nothing.

CHRISTIAN NESTELL BOVEE

Intuitions and Summaries of Thought


All greatness in performance rests upon a basis of details. A knowledge of what is general to a subject may suffice for the merely learned man, but a thorough knowledge of details is necessary to form the adept.

CHRISTIAN NESTELL BOVEE

Intuitions and Summaries of Thought


We have two lessons to teach an enemy who despises us--to value himself less highly, and us more worthily.

CHRISTIAN NESTELL BOVEE

Intuitions and Summaries of Thought


We are far more the creatures of our ideas than of our circumstances.

CHRISTIAN NESTELL BOVEE

Intuitions and Summaries of Thought


To become the master of his circumstances--to override them, as the stately ship overrides the waves, stormy or smooth, as her obedient element--not 'whelmed and lost in them--this is the aim and effort of every loftier nature.

CHRISTIAN NESTELL BOVEE

Intuitions and Summaries of Thought


There will always be romance in the world, so long as there are young hearts in it.

CHRISTIAN NESTELL BOVEE

attributed, Day's Collacon


The reveries of the dreamer advance his hopes, but not their realization. One good hour of earnest work is worth them all.

CHRISTIAN NESTELL BOVEE

Intuitions and Summaries of Thought


The perfection of dress lies in the union of three requisites: in its being comfortable, inexpensive, and in good taste. It should not be so far removed from the prevailing mode as to excite attention, nor yet so far within the fashion as to imply a weak submission to it.

CHRISTIAN NESTELL BOVEE

Intuitions and Summaries of Thought


The legitimate aim of criticism is to direct attention to the excellent. The bad will dig its own grave.

CHRISTIAN NESTELL BOVEE

Intuitions and Summaries of Thought


Pride is like the beautiful acacia, that lifts its head proudly above its neighbor plants--forgetting that it too, like them, has its roots in the dirt.

CHRISTIAN NESTELL BOVEE

Intuitions and Summaries of Thought


One of the greatest bores in life is a too knowing fellow, who sees through all delusions, and will never let you enjoy any of them, not even your favorite ones, no matter how agreeable they may be, but must be always waking you out of some delicious dream, only to tell you, "My dear sir, you are dreaming;" as if it were not both proper and natural to dream. He forgets that many things are pleasant only while the delusions which make them so last.

CHRISTIAN NESTELL BOVEE

Intuitions and Summaries of Thought


Men were created for something better than merely to make money. A close application to business, until a competence is gained, is one of the chief virtues; but to continue in trade long after this result is obtained, is one of the signs, not to be mistaken, of a sordid and ignoble nature.

CHRISTIAN NESTELL BOVEE

Intuitions and Summaries of Thought


Many children, many cares; no children, no felicity.

CHRISTIAN NESTELL BOVEE

Intuitions and Summaries of Thought


It is the passion that is in a kiss that gives it its sweetness: it is the affection in a kiss that sanctifies it.

CHRISTIAN NESTELL BOVEE

Intuitions and Summaries of Thought