"Any man may kill a snake, but only a Perseus, a St. George, a Coffin, have the heart in them to march boldly up to a whale."

"There are some enterprises in which a careful disorderliness is the true method."

"I rejoice in my spine, as in the firm audacious staff of that flag which I fling half out to the world."

"I would rather feel your spine than your skull, whoever you are. A thin joist of a spine never yet upheld a full and noble soul."

"For I believe that much of a man's character will be found betokened in his backbone."

"I try all things; I achieve what I can."