The chief problem in any community cursed with crime is not the punishment of the criminals, but the preventing of the young from being trained to crime.

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Either America will destroy ignorance or ignorance will destroy the United States.

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Now is the accepted time, not tomorrow, not some more convenient season. It is today that our best work can be done and not some future day or future year. It is today that we fit ourselves for the greater usefulness of tomorrow. Today is the seed time, now are the hours of work, and tomorrow comes the harvest and the playtime.

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I believe in Liberty for all men: the space to stretch their arms and their souls; the right to breathe and the right to vote, the freedom to choose their friends, enjoy the sunshine, and ride on the railroads, uncursed by color; thinking, dreaming, working as they will in a kingdom of beauty and love.

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Ignorance is a cure for nothing.

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To stimulate wildly weak and untrained minds is to play with mighty fires.

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Education is that whole system of human training within and without the school house walls, which molds and develops men.

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I am especially glad of the divine gift of laughter: it has made the world human and lovable, despite all its pain and wrong.

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Lord, make us mindful of the little things that grow and blossom in these days to make the world beautiful for us.

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There may often be excuse for doing things poorly in this world, but there is never any excuse for calling a poorly done thing, well done.

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