Conscious remorse and anguish must be felt, to curb desire, to break the
stubborn will, and work a second nature in the soul.--_Rowe._
They say best men are moulded out of faults, and, for the most, become
much more the better for being a little bad!--_Shakespeare._
~Regret.~--Why is it that a blessing only when it is lost cuts as deep
into the heart as a sharp diamond? Why must we first weep before we can
love so deeply that our hearts ache?--_Richter._
~Religion.~--Natural religion supplies still all the facts which are
disguised under the dogma of popular creeds. The progress of religion is
steadily to its identity with morals.--_Emerson._
I endeavor in vain to give my parishioners more cheerful ideas of
religion; to teach them that God is not a jealous, childish, merciless
tyrant; that He is best served by a regular tenor of good actions, not
by bad singing, ill-composed prayers, and eternal apprehensions. But the
luxury of false religion is to be unhappy!--_Sydney Smith._