“Simply to be what God would have us, is to be greater than to have the applause of the whole world otherwise.  All such statements as this are necessarily one-sided.  Because there are always good and virtuous men in the world whose approbation is that of God.

“There is an instinct in man which draws him to danger, as in battle-fields; as there is also in the fly, drawing it to the flame of light.  It is the desire of the spirit within, seeking for release.”

“August 20, 1844.—­Scarce do I know what to say of myself.  If I accuse myself by the light given me, it would lead me to leave all around me.  My conscience thus accuses me.  And in partaking of worldly things and going into the company around me, my interior self has no pleasure, and I feel afterwards that the labor and time have been misspent.  How to live a life which shall be conformable to the life wlthin and not separate from the persons and circumstances around me, I cannot conceive.  I am now like one who tastes a little of this and then a little of that dish, while his time is wasted and his mind distracted from that pure enjoyment which is a foretaste of the bliss of the angels.  I feel my primitive instincts and unvitiated tastes daily becoming more sensible to inspirations from above, from the invisible.  The ideal world, the soul world, the kingdom of heaven within, I feel as if I were more a friend and citizen of O Lord! my heart would break forth in praise of the riches of the life given within!  It seems that in this that we enjoy all, know all, and possess all.  If we have Thee, O Lord! if Thou hast taken up Thy dwelling in us, we enjoy heaven within and paradise without!”

“August 21, 1844.  The object of education should be to place each individual mind in vital union with the One Universal Educator. . . .

“The only pleasure for man is his union with a priori principles.”

“August 23, 1844.—­If the animal passions are indulged, of course you must pay the cost.  If you get a large family of children about you, and please your animal appetites with all sorts of luxury, and indulge your pride in all the foolish fashions of show, do not wonder that it cost all your time to uphold such an expensive life.  This is necessary, unless you cheat some one else out of the hard-earned value of his labor.  I cannot conceive how a Christian, under the present arrangements, can become wealthy without violating repeatedly the precepts of his religion. . . .”

“Where shall we find God?  Within.

“How shall we hear the voices of angels?  Listen with the inward ear.

“When are we with God?  When we are no more with ourselves.

“When do we hear the music of heaven?  When we are entirely silent.

“What is the effect of sin?  Confusion.

“Where does God dwell?  In silence.

“Who loves God?  He who knows nothing and loves nothing of himself.

“What is prayer?  The breath of silence.