“It is better to have crooked legs than a crooked spirit.”

“We can only do the best we can with what we have. That, after all, is the measure of success: what we do with what we have.”

“Thou canst but try,' said John. 'Anyone can *not* do it.”

“Each of us has his place in the world " he said. "If we cannot serve in one way there is always another. If we do what we are able a door always opens to something else.”

“Fret not, my son. None of us is perfect. It is better to have crooked legs than a crooked spirit. We can only do the best we can with what we have. That, after all, is the measure of success: what we do with what we have.”

“A fine and beautiful life lies before thee, because thou hast a lively mind and a good wit. Thine arms are very strong and sturdy. Swimming hath helped to make them so, but only because thou hast had the will to do it. Fret not, my son. None of us is perfect. It is better to have crooked legs than a crooked spirit. We can only do the best we can with what we have. That, after all, is the measure of success: what we do with what we have.”

“Love works in miracles every day: such as weakening the strong, and strengthening the weak; making fools of the wise, and wise men of fools; favouring the passions, destroying reason, and in a word, turning everything topsy-turvy.”