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Of all formal things in the world, a clipped hedge is the most formal and of all the informal things in the world, a forest tree is the most informal.

Henry Ward Beecher

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Henry Ward Beecher
Journalist
Minister
Politician
Theologian
Litchfield (town)
Connecticut
Hedge
Forest
Formal
Forests
Tree
Things
Clipped
World
Informal
Shrubs

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Christianity is simply the ideal form of manhood represented to us by Jesus Christ.
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You are not called to be a canary in a cage. You are called to be an eagle, and to fly sun to sun, over continents.
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“I can forgive, but I cannot forget,” is only another way of saying, “I will not forgive.”
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A dull ax never loves grindstones.
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Give us that calm certainty of truth, that nearness to Thee, that conviction of the reality of the life to come, which we shall need to bear us through the troubles of this.
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The worst prison is not of stone. It is of a throbbing heart, outraged by an infamous life.
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His nature is such that our often coming does not tire him. The whole burden of the whole life of every man may be rolled on to God and not weary him, though it has wearied man.
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Laws are not masters but servants, and he rules them who obey them.
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The last person one wants to be is themselves. Sadly, that is the best person to be.
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Too much looking backward ... is bad for progress.
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There are multitudes of persons whose idea of liberty is the right to do what they please, instead of the right of doing that which is lawful and best.
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God's providence is on the side of clear heads.
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There is an ugly kind of forgiveness in this world--a kind of hedgehog forgiveness, shot out like quills.
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Evil men of every degree will use you, flatter you, lead you on until you are useless then, if the virtuous do not pity you, or God compassionate, you are without a friend in the universe.
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To do good work a man should no doubt be industrious. To do great work he must certainly be idle a well.
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While a man is stringing a harp, he tries the strings, not for music, but for construction. When it is finished it shall be played for melodies. God is fashioning the human heart for future joy. He only sounds a string here and there to see how far His work has progressed.
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That is the best baptism that leaves the man cleanest inside.
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A lie always needs a truth for a handle to it. The worst lies are those whose blade is false, but whose handle is true.
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I never know how to worship until I know how to love.
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There is not a single heart but has its moments of longing.
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