Rocks whereon greatest men have oftest wreck'd.

Rocks whereon greatest men have oftest wreck'd.

Great minds have purposes, others have wishes. Little minds are tamed and subdued by misfortune; but great minds rise above read more

Great minds have purposes, others have wishes. Little minds are tamed and subdued by misfortune; but great minds rise above them.

Calamity is man's true touch-stone.
- Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher,

Calamity is man's true touch-stone.
- Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher,

It is pleasant, when the sea runs high, to view from land the
great distress of another.
[Lat., read more

It is pleasant, when the sea runs high, to view from land the
great distress of another.
[Lat., Suave mari magno, turbantibus aequora ventis
E terra magnum alterius spectare laborum.]

Better be wise by the misfortunes of others than by your own.

Better be wise by the misfortunes of others than by your own.

I never exaggerate. I just remember big.

I never exaggerate. I just remember big.

Let us be of good cheer, however, remembering that the
misfortunes hardest to bear are those which never come.

Let us be of good cheer, however, remembering that the
misfortunes hardest to bear are those which never come.

Man's great misfortune is that he has no organ, no kind of eyelid or brake, to mask or block a read more

Man's great misfortune is that he has no organ, no kind of eyelid or brake, to mask or block a thought, or all thought, when he wants to

It has been my misfortune to be engaged in more battles than any other general on the other side of read more

It has been my misfortune to be engaged in more battles than any other general on the other side of the Atlantic; but there was never a time during my command when I would not have chosen some settlement by reason rather than the sword.