Ezra Cornell

“I read the book with interest, but when Jackson was a candidate in 1828 for the Presidency, I opposed him and voted for Adams. I favored a protective tariff.”

“In 1844, there was a balance of perhaps of a couple of thousand dollars on the cr side.”

“My dear, the duty that devolved wholly on you in my absence of guiding and expanding the minds of our dear children is a laborious one and a responsible one.”

“I have always considered that choosing a companion for life was a very important affair and that my happyness or misery in this life depended on the choice.”

“There is nothing I have to reflect on that gives me more satisfaction than the fact that my life is insured for the benefit of my Dear Wife and children.”

“The summer of 1830 I... blasted the tunnel through the rock to take water from the dam above the falls for the mill... In 1831 we lowered the tunnel four feet, and built a new dam across the creek.”

“Enquire what the effect of large endowments are upon colleges.”

“Idleness is to the human mind like rust to iron.”

“Yesterday I staked off the ground on the hill for an orchard. I want to get 1,000 apple trees agrowing.”

“There is a great reform required in the education and habits of females.”

“As for the Pope, I am too old to be frightened by his shadow, and am quite sure his shadow or Substance will do less harm to the liberties of my country than will a party, who seek to acquire political power by exciting religious bigotry in the minds of their duped followers.”

“I have a fine lot of telescopes. I have one with which I can see the Mountains in the Moon.”

“I was glad to hear of that determination as I detest the practice of cousins marrying or any marriage between persons in which there can be traced the most distant relationship. I go for the improvement instead of the deterioration of our race.”

“The Soul of man is made an article of merchandize by his fellow man and can such a land be happy? No! Happyness does not dwell in any land that is scard by the blighting curse of Slavery.”

“I want to go where I can be of the most service to the general enterprise.”