It is a fact often observed, that men have written good verses under the inspiration of passion, who cannot write well under other circumstances.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Friendship, like the immortality of the soul, is too good to be believed.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

I have thought a sufficient measure of civilization is the influence of good women.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

He who is to be a good ruler must have first been ruled.
Aristotle

Jealousy is both reasonable and belongs to reasonable men, while envy is base and belongs to the base, for the one makes himself get good things by jealousy, while the other does not allow his neighbour to have them through envy.
Aristotle

Perfect friendship is the friendship of men who are good, and alike in excellence; for these wish well alike to each other qua good, and they are good in themselves.
Aristotle

Good habits formed at youth make all the difference.
Aristotle

Every art and every inquiry, and similarly every action and choice, is thought to aim at some good; and for this reason the good has rightly been declared to be that at which all things aim.
Aristotle

Therefore, the good of man must be the end of the science of politics.
Aristotle

I've learned that mistakes can often be as good a teacher as success.
Jack Welch

Not only must we be good, but we must also be good for something.
Henry David Thoreau

Be not simply good - be good for something.
Henry David Thoreau

Aim above morality. Be not simply good, be good for something.
Henry David Thoreau

A truly good book teaches me better than to read it. I must soon lay it down, and commence living on its hint. What I began by reading, I must finish by acting.
Henry David Thoreau

I have seen how the foundations of the world are laid, and I have not the least doubt that it will stand a good while.
Henry David Thoreau

Do not be too moral. You may cheat yourself out of much life so. Aim above morality. Be not simply good; be good for something.
Henry David Thoreau

If I knew for a certainty that a man was coming to my house with the conscious design of doing me good, I should run for my life.
Henry David Thoreau

As for doing good; that is one of the professions which is full. Moreover I have tried it fairly and, strange as it may seem, am satisfied that it does not agree with my constitution.
Henry David Thoreau

There is more of good nature than of good sense at the bottom of most marriages.
Henry David Thoreau

I had a stick of CareFree gum, but it didn't work. I felt pretty good while I was blowing that bubble, but as soon as the gum lost its flavor, I was back to pondering my mortality.
Mitch Hedberg