"Citizens, do you picture the future to yourselves? The streets of cities inundated with light, green branches on the thresholds, nations sisters, men just, old men blessing children, the past loving the present, thinkers entirely at liberty, believers on terms of full equality, for religion heaven, God the direct priest, human conscience become an altar, no more hatreds, the fraternity of the workshop and the school, for sole penalty and recompense fame, work for all, right for all, peace over all, no more bloodshed, no more wars, happy mothers! To conquer matter is the first step; to realize the ideal is the second. Reflect on what progress has already accomplished. Formerly, the first human races beheld with terror the hydra pass before their eyes, breathing on the waters, the dragon which vomited flame, the griffin who was the monster of the air, and who flew with the wings of an eagle and the talons of a tiger; fearful beasts which were above man. Man, nevertheless, spread his snares, consecrated by intelligence, and finally conquered these monsters." -Enjolras (to the men at the barricade in Jean Valjean, Book 1, Chapter V), "Les Miserables" by Victor Hugo. 

"Ne te quaesiveris extra." (Seek no one besides yourself.) - "Self- Reliance" by Ralph Waldo Emerson

P.S. If you wish to read some of my fanfics, here you go: http://www.fanfiction.net/~learabribage