“It is useless to talk with those who do not understand one and troublesome to talk with those who criticize from a feeling of superiority. Especially one-sided persons are troublesome. Few are accomplished in many arts and most cling narrowly to their own opinion.”

“One who gives [alms] without advertising is superior. One who gives and talks about it is medium. Only a knave talks much and gives nothing.”

“The essence of oppression is that one is defined from the outside by those who define themselves as superior by criteria of their own choice.”

“Human beings are so made that the ones who do the crushing feel nothing; it is the person crushed who feels what is happening. Unless one has placed oneself on the side of the oppressed, to feel with them, one cannot understand.”

“The most generous person is the one who offers help to those who do not expect him to help.”

“One of the most troublesome things in life is that what you do or do not want has very little to do with what does or does not happen.”

“All those who are not criticized, err. Those who are not watched, abuse. Those who are spoiled, become fat. Those who are applauded, are puffed up. A true superiority of spirit is needed to save oneself from those consequences.”

““These accomplishments are what make a home comfortable.”
Melody said, “I thought that a home was made comfortable by those who live in it and their regard for one another.”
“This is true, Miss Melody, but if one presumes the affection which should be in all homes, then those homes which are most comfortable are also those which possess an understanding and appreciation for the arts.””

“The talkative person is one who speaks more than he thinks. Someone who thinks a great deal and talks a great deal is never considered a talkative person. The talkative man speaks from his mouth, the eloquent man speaks from his heart.”

“Few are those who see with their own eyes and feel with their own hearts.”