Before Flag Waving

Patriotic posting en route tomorrow, but for the moment, some choice selections, hopefully entertaining, from the book of the moment. Bonus point to the MIC contestant who gets this one correct. Sidenote, if I haven't posted the correct answer to a question (and it hasn't been noted in the comments) you can still answer it and score points. Just so's you know...

Be like the headland against which the waves break and break: it stands firm, until presently the watery tumult around it subsides once more to rest.
...
Observe carefully what guides the actions of the wise, and what they shun and seek.
...
At day's first light have in readiness, against disinclination to leave your bed, the thought that 'I am rising for the work of man.'
...
How strange are the ways of men! They will spare no word of praise for their contemporaries, who live in their very midst, and yet the covet greatly for themselves the praise of future generations, whom they have never seen and never will see. Almost as well grumble at not having praise from one's ancestors!
...
And my favorite at the moment, from a selection where the author is describing his father:

His friendships were enduring; they were not capricious, and they were not extravagant.

That's all for the moment. I'm prowling about DC, stealing wireless bandwidth and jotting down life as I see it. A portly character just chuckled at me, "Yer really wailing on that iBook, dude." Maybe it's time to go.