When a man cuts himself absolutely adrift from custom, what an astonishingly light spar floats him! How few his wants are, after all! Thomas Bailey Aldrich absolutelyadriftastonishingly Change image and share on social
A man may do worse than make what the world calls a not wholly happy marriage. Thomas Bailey Aldrich badlycallhappy Change image and share on social
A girl does not treat a possible lover with unvarying simplicity and directness. In all its phases, love is complex; friendship is not. Thomas Bailey Aldrich complexdirectnessfriendship Change image and share on social
To live in Portsmouth without possessing a family portrait done by Copley is like living in Boston without having an ancestor in the old Granary Burying-Ground. You can exist, but you cannot be said to flourish. Thomas Bailey Aldrich ancestorbostonbury share on social
Civilization is the lamb's skin in which barbarism masquerades. Thomas Bailey Aldrich barbarismcivilizationlamb Change image and share on social
I have frequently noticed how circumstances conspire to help a man, or a boy, when he has thoroughly resolved on doing a thing. Thomas Bailey Aldrich boycircumstanceconspire Change image and share on social
I knew I was born at the North but hoped nobody would find it out. I looked upon the misfortune as something so shrouded by time and distance that maybe nobody remembered it. Thomas Bailey Aldrich beardistancefind Change image and share on social
When Washington visited Portsmouth in 1789, he was not much impressed by the architecture of the little town that had stood by him so stoutly in the struggle for independence. Thomas Bailey Aldrich architectureimpressindependence Change image and share on social
Books that have become classics - books that have had their day and now get more praise than perusal - always remind me of retired colonels and majors and captains who, having reached the age limit, find themselves retired on half pay. Thomas Bailey Aldrich agebookcaptain share on social
Painfully to attain possession of what we do not want, and then painfully to waste our days in attempting to rid ourselves of it, seems to be a part of our discipline here below. Thomas Bailey Aldrich attainattemptday Change image and share on social
