A lecture ought to be something which all can understand, about something which interests everybody.

I think, that, if any experienced lecturer gives you a different account from this, it will probably be one of those eloquent or forcible speakers who hold an audience by the charm of their manner, whatever they talk about,--even when they don't talk very well.
But an AVERAGE, which was what I meant to speak about, is one of the most extraordinary subjects of observation and study.

It is awful in its uniformity, in its automatic necessity of action.

Two communities of ants or bees are exactly alike in all their actions, so far as we can see.

Two lyceum assemblies, of five hundred each, are so nearly alike, that they are absolutely undistinguishable in many cases by any definite mark, and there is nothing but the place and time by which one can tell the "remarkably intelligent audience" of a town in New York or Ohio from one in any New England town of similar size.