Ben-Hur

Book: Ben-Hur
Author: Lew Wallace
Edition: Gutenberg
Read:  Jan 2, 2014
790 pages
Rated: 4 1/2 out of 5

Synopsis:
There are two parallel stories told by Lew Wallace. The first is the story of Judah Ben-Hur, the son of Hur. It tells how he was friends with a Roman aristocrat. As the Roman becomes more Roman, Ben-Hur starts to consider his Jewishness. It tells of his time as a slave and then a rich man. Then as one destroys his enemy, but still is looking-but for what?

The second is the story of the Christ through the eyes of one of the wise men and Ben-Hur.


Thoughts:

The story is written in eight books. Each book has a slice of the total story.

1. Book 1-Story of the three wise men-how they came together and how they found the wise men. Balthasar continues on through out Ben-Hur.
2. Book 2-We are introduced to Judah Ben-Hur and his relationship with Messala, a young Roman. This relationship turns from friendship to antagonism. Finally, Messala when an accident befalls Ben-Hur, Messala turns his back and on him and Ben-Hur is put into slavery.
3. Book 3-Ben-Hur is on a galley, manning the oars as a slave. He is noticed by the admiral of the navy and when he rescues the admiral  after a sea-battle, he is set free and adopted by the admiral.
4. Book 4-Antioch, the focus of the story, especially for Ben-Hur as several characters are brought together: Simonides, the  merchant and his daughter Esther; Balthasar and his daughter daughter Iras; and Sheik Ilderim, the ruler of the desert. Messala comes back into the picture/
5. Book 5-Chariot Race-need more be said?
6. Book 6-Ben-Hur's return to Jerusalem. His mother and sister are released from prison, but are now lepers. Jesus comes into the picture a lot more.
7. Book 7-Questions of who is Jesus arise.
8. Book 8- Ben-Hur, Jesus and the Cross

 A bit more thoughts, a bit more depth:

Book I
In the first book, Wallace provides a summary of many of the points of Christianity. He does so through the words of the three wise men. The thought is presented that God loves the whole of creation, not just one race. He reveals himself to many peoples, those who seek him. God will work with what faith a person has and reveal to them as much as they can handle. Why should such a God limit his love and benefaction to one land, and, as it were, to one family? (chp 3) Wallace has the three kings coming from each line of Noah's offspring. Wallace's way of showing universal homage to the new born Christ.

Wallace presents several thoughts about what the life of communion with God is like:

• Master's will, and that the service is a constant ecstasy”(chp 3) said by the Greek wise man. This is what ever person of the spirit longs for--that closeness of knowing the eternal one. 
• every breath was a prayer--for revelation. (chp 3) This shows the longing of wanting to know God, so much that your very beinging is a search for him. You clear away all evil or conflicting thought. 
• “As he does all who cry to him with such faith," said the Hindoo. "But, alas!" the Egyptian added, "how few are there wise enough to know when he answers them!” (Chp 3) Those who have eye let him see; those who have ears, let them hear.
• “A time will come when the signs will all “proceed from the Son. Happy they who then believe in him!” (103).

To redeem the race--I do not mean to destroy it--to REDEEM the race, he must make himself once more manifest; HE MUST COME IN PERSON. Book 1, chp 5.  This is the wise men talking. The speaker shows an understanding of the need for redemption and the cost it has on God.

On pg 67, what does Mary mean when she says, this place is sanctified?

“In a verse of the Shema they found all the learning and all the law of their simple lives--that their Lord was One God, and that they must love him with all their souls. And they loved him, and such was their wisdom, surpassing that of kings.”  (73) This is still true today. 

The happiness of love is in action; its test is what one is willing to do for others Pg 23, Book I, chp 4.  Is love really love when there is no action, but only words?

To begin a reform, go not into the places of the great and rich; go rather to those whose cups of happiness are empty--to the poor and humble  pg 32, book 1, chp 5.   So true. Christianity has erred her. We try to convert people who are either like us, who we want to be like us, or whom we want to be. But it is those with little which want to be filled.

Book II

Messala aim in life:  Think of life in Rome with money--money, wine, women, games--poets at the banquet, intrigues in the court, dice all the year round.  Book II, chp 2. Sounds almost American!

Rome, her poets, orators, senators, courtiers, are mad with affectation of what they call satire. (132) Today, this may be replaced with irony.

In talking to his mother, Ben-Hur asks, “why may not a son of Israel do all a Roman may?” (133) The answer is that all things may be, but there are many ways not open to a child of a God. Doing things in the way of the world, makes us one of with the world.  The child of God is different. This is a contrast with what Messala has for his ambition.

Description of Jesus in Book II, chapter 7:  “The hand laid kindly upon his shoulder awoke the unfortunate Judah, and, looking up, he saw a face he never forgot--the face of a boy about his own age, shaded by locks of yellowish bright chestnut hair; a face lighted by dark-blue eyes, at the time so soft, so appealing, so full of love and holy purpose, that they had all the power of command and will. The spirit of the Jew, hardened though it was by days and nights of suffering, and so embittered by wrong that its dreams of revenge took in all the world, melted under the stranger's look, and became as a child's. He put his lips to the pitcher, and drank long and deep. Not a word was said to him, nor did he say a word.” Seems like Jesus pops up in some very unlikely, but touching ways. He affects not only Judah, but the men guarding him, even though a word is not spoken.

While craving justice for ourselves, it is never wise to be unjust to others. Pg 134, Book II,  chp 4

There is no law by which to determine the superiority of nations; hence the vanity of the claim, and the idleness of disputes about it.   Pg 141, Book II,  chp 5

A great man, O my boy, is one whose life proves him to have been recognized, if not called, by God.   Pg 142, Book II,  chp 5

Book III

Upon the sinking of the Astroea, Arrius makes Ben-Hur promise to kill him if another coming towards him is a pirate. Ben-Hur refuses because he is a Jew. He states he is neither slave or a freeman, but he belongs to God. This should be the standard for any Christian-our actions are because we belong to God.

It seems in each book, Jesus' presence is felt. Sometimes it is overt, such as in the opening and closing books. Other times it is with just a reference. In this book, the reference to Jesus is the memory of Jesus giving Ben-Hur a drink of water.

Some interesting quotes:

• Knowledge leaves no room for chances. Pg 188, Book III,  chp 2 Is this true? I would agree that the more which we know about a situation, the more we can anticipate and plan. Can we ever know all? This is the province of God.
• spirit hath much to do with endurance. Pg 197, Book III,  chp 3. This is said concerning Ben-Hur's three years as a slave in the gallies. Normally a person would die after a year, but Ben-Hur grew stronger. Why? Because of his will to live and avenge.
• People, generally, are not aware of the ease of mind there is in knowing where they are, and where they are going. The sensation of being lost is a keen distress; still worse is the feeling one has in driving blindly into unknown places. Pg 209, Book III,  chp 4.

Book IV

Judah, when he enters Antioch, somebody comments that he is someone who has a story to tell. Interesting comment and should be true of each on of us. Of course, there is always the question of, will someone listen?

Love is delightful--ah! how pleasant as a successor to wretchedness like his. But was it all there was of life? All?   Chp 6, pg 279  The Beatles were wrong. Love is not all you need-but there is a lot to needing love. But there is also respect and integrity.

The law of the place was Love, but Love without Law.  Chp 6, pg 282 Was wondering what Wallace meant by this. Love is lawless? Love will rule? Or did he mean that when you love, rules get laid aside and something supreme takes effect which incorporates all the laws of how we are to act?

Once again, we see the story of Jesus intertwined in Ben-Hur's story.  Balthasar comes into the picture again--one of the wise men from Book I. Also the servant Mallucus relates the story of the three wise men to Ben-Hur.

A good blessing:  Father of All--God! What we have is of thee; take our thanks, and bless us, that we may continue to do thy will.   Chp 14, pg 368

the masters of the world, because they were masters, carried their worship and offerings indifferently from altar to altar, delighted in the pandemonium they had erected.  Chp 15, pg 374  This is what happens with power. Once we obtain power, we cannot be bothered with those who are too small for us to notice. Think of how politics changes people.

His scheme of life has been explained.  Chp 17, pg 387

What of this kingdom? And what is it to be?  Chp 17, pg 389. What is the Kingdom of God Both we and Ben-Hur asks. Even in today's sermon, there is the question of what kind of king is Jesus?


Some interesting quotes:

• A certain facility of accommodation in the matter of religion comes to us after much intercourse with people of a different faith; gradually we attain the truth that every creed is illustrated by good men who are entitled to our respect, but whom we cannot respect without courtesy to their creed.  Pg 275 Book IV, chp 5 
• the vengeful thought that has root merely in the mind is but a dream of idlest sort which one clear day will dissipate; while revenge the passion is a disease of the heart which climbs up, up to the brain, and feeds itself on both alike.  Pg 329, Book IV, chp 11
• God is good to me, very good," he said, fervently. "His habit is to move in mystery, yet sometimes he permits us to think we see and understand him.  Pg 331, Book IV, chp11

Book V

Even in the heat of the race, Ben-Hur sees the soul of a person, even faintly, in his enemy.



Some interesting quotes:

• It is neither wise nor honest to detract from beauty as a quality....  Beauty is of itself a power. Pg 412, Book V chp 3
• Intelligence is never wasted; intelligence like God's never stirs except with design. Pg 460, Book V chp 8
• A man is never safer than when he is under the laugh. Pg 480, Book V chp 10 Meaning, when he can laugh at himself.

Book VI

“Her love was in tyrannical mood.”   Chp 4, pg 592. Speaking of the mother. Interesting phrase where Wallace captures the sense that love can be domineering.



Some interesting quotes:

• Conditions are pleasant or grievous to us according to our sensibilities. ... As the mind is made intelligent, the capacity of the soul for pure enjoyment is proportionally increased. Well, therefore, if it be saved! If lost, however, alas that it ever had cultivation! its capacity for enjoyment in the one case is the measure of its capacity to suffer in the other. Pg 562, Book VI chp 2
• Dreaming is the relief of labor, the wine that sustains us in act. We learn to love labor, not for itself, but for the opportunity it furnishes for dreaming, Pg 580, Book VI chp 3
• Living is dreaming. Only in the grave are there no dreams.  Pg 580, Book VI chp 3
• cunning is so easily baffled; and God, always the last resort of the helpless--God is sometimes so slow to act!  Pg 584, Book VI chp 4

Book VII

God never seemed so actual and so near by. Chp 3, pg 634. Said when Balthasar gave thanks for God revealing his coming one. Ben-hur's thought as he listened in. I have this impression whenever I hang around a person who has a close walk with God.

In chapter three, Ben-Hur and Balthasar get into a discussion of the nature of the King. This book's talk is an extension of an earlier talk. Balthasar notes that the root of a spiritual King rather than a conqueror is in the needs of man. He says: To lie down and die, and be no more--no more forever--time never was when man wished for such an end; nor has the man ever been who did not in his heart promise himself something better. The monuments of the nations are all protests against nothingness after death; so are statues and inscriptions; so is history. Balthasar waxes on about the need for a soul and it's needs to be changed. But he also talks about how it is better to be a man with a soul rather than just a soul.

But his daughter is different. She sees his religion as something which old people needs. There should be no religion for youth, only poetry and philosophy; and no poetry except such as is the inspiration of wine and mirth and love, and no philosophy that does not nod excuse for follies which cannot outlive a season.

Some interesting quotes:

• He is never alone who is where God is--and God is everywhere.  Pg 632, Book VII chp 2

Book VIII

Chp 6 Isis may kiss a heart without making it better.  Isis, the perfect mother and wife in Egyptian myth, falls short of what real love is.

Chp 7, The wound, it should be observed, was to his vanity; and fortunately it is not often that people die of such hurts, or even continue a long time sick. This refers to when Ben-Hur realizes that Baltasar's beautiful daughter holds after Messala and not him. There is a realization that she was never the right one and she symbolizes all the worldliness which a person can fall into without even realizing it.

Chp 7, central question of book and life,  What manner of man is he? Is Jesus a king? A good teacher? A person whom we should follow? Or more?

Wallace portrays not only Jews taking Jesus to his death, but all nationalities. To me, this is one of the strongest portraits in the book. It is not just the Jews and Romans getting rid of a solitary preacher. But all nationalities had a hand in Jesus' execution. And as such, we all share in putting him to death.

The pontiff, with all his pride, was afraid. Where got the man his confidence except from Truth? And what should the Truth be but God? A very little now would put them all to flight.  Chp 7. This is the scene where the mob is set on capturing Jesus. He shows that even this one individual would be able to  stop all with his own beaing if he cared to. But Wallace points his picture in a way which shows that Jesus is giving himself willingly.

'It is finished! It is finished!'So a hero, dying in the doing a great deed, celebrates his success with a last cheer.

Some interesting quotes:

• Pure wisdom always directs itself towards God; the purest wisdom is knowledge of God; Pg 678, Book VIII, chp 1
• The best way, after all, to reach an understanding of the divine is by study of the human. In the things superior to men we may always look to find God. Pg 726, Book VIII, chp 6
• he understood the death was necessary to faith in the resurrection, without which Christianity would be an empty husk. Pg 763, Book VIII, chp 9

Evaluation:
 When reading this book, expect to read it as if you are on a long ride on top of a camel. During the trip you have great opportunity to examine the scenery, bouncing along the waves of a land animal. That is the writings of Lew Wallace, very descriptive, but once you get into his rhythm, there is a comfort in the motion of the book. Also make sure you have a good dictionary by your side as Wallace uses words we do not find in modern writing anymore.

If you have only seen the movie and the chariot race has grabbed your attention, then you have the right book. But be warned there is much more, which the movie only gives a bit of treatment to.

The central question the author raises is, "Who is this man?" The man in question is Jesus. This seems strange for a book like this, but Wallace does a very good job of weaving the story of the Christ in with Ben-Hur's life. Even if you are not of the faith, you are still drawn in, as long as you can get through the long descriptions which seem a bit overly done to the modern reader.


  
Notes from my book group:
Ben-Hur first started out from a question put to Lew Wallace, the author.

Lew Wallace was an American lawyer, American Civil War general, territorial governor (new Mexico), author, ambassador (Ottoman Empire) and politician. Step-mother was a prominent suffragist and temperance advocate. Wallace's service in the Civil War. He lead volunteers from Indiana.  It was through a decision by him was Fort Danielson defended. As a reward, he was elevated to brigadar general. At the Battle of Shiloh, Wallace ran into controversy. He had an instrumental part in the Battle of Shiloh. He was commanded to go Shiloh Church. According to Wallace, he was not given a route; according to Grant, he was told to go on the lower road. Wallace went on the upper road. He was relieve of command due to incompetence.

Later reassigned to Cincinnati for its defense. Then in July 1864 he was defeated by the army of the Confederate General, Early who was pushing towards Washington. Wallace had 5,800 men; Early had 150,000. But through Wallace, he delayed Early;'s advance by a day, giving time for Washington to defend itself.

As Governor of New Mexico, he was involved in the Lincoln County War, where he offered amnesty to many of the participants, including William Henry McCarthy, aka, Billy the Kid. This was to be after Billy the Kid was to turn in others and himself. But the deal fell through and eventually he would be killed.

Ben-Hur has been called the the most influential Christian book of the nineteenth century. (Humanities magazine-2009). Published in 1880 while he was Govenor of New Mexico, it was the top rated book of its time, superseding Uncle Tom's Cabin and only falling behind Gone With The Wind in 1936. The origin of the book was from a conversation with Colonel Robert Insgroll-noted agnostic. Insgroll questioned Wallace about his faith. Wallace note "I was ashamed of myself, and make haste now to declare that the mortification of pride I then endured...ended in a resolution to study the whole matter." It was through writing Ben-Hur that Wallace resolved the question Wallace was asked. Most of which was written in Indiana. But the crucifixion scene was written  climactic scenes of the crucifixion in his room by lantern light, after returning from a dramatic encounter with Henry McCarty



Wallace writes in a pretty descriptive manner. This is somewhat the manner of the time, such as Hugo in Les Mes. Does the use of such description enhance your reading experience? Or do you find your self skimming through them?  

Pretty much found the long narratives not helpful with a tendency to skim. But we all agreed this had more to do with the period written-this was the style.

Originally this book was selected, by Gary, as a December read. Would you consider this a Christmas book? Why or why not? Gary's thinking is that it starts with Christmas and shows the effects on both Ben-Hur and Balsthastar.
Not an uplifting book. More of an Easter/Good Friday type of book.

In Book II, chapter 5, Judah's mother gives a speech which talks about what is the greatness of the nations. Is she right? What makes a nation great?
Much of our talk on this question had to do with how a nation treats the downtrodden.

Much of the novel talks about revenge. Is revenge achieved? Is their satisfaction from any of the forms of revenge? 

What kind of woman is Ben-hur's mother? What kind of man is Ben-Hur? How does she influence him in his trials and tests? How does she go through her testing?

Contrast Iras and Esther? Why does Wallace put these two characters not his story and make them like he does? What can we learn from them?

Does Wallace's story bring you to a better understanding of the Christian story?

One of the people in the group was reading Bill O'Reilly's Killing Jesus. She thought the juxtapoint was interesting, with Wallace giving a lot better account of the Christian story.

New Words:

• kufiyeh (5):  an Arab headdress for men; made from a diagonally folded square of cloth held in place by an agal wound around the head.
• Saat (6): clock, watch or an hour
• Manzil (6): For the convenience of people who wish to read the Qur'an in a week the text may be divided into 7 portions, each portion is known as Hizb or Manzil.
• Houdal (8):
• tarbooshe (39): A red cap worn by Turks and other Eastern nations, sometimes alone and sometimes swathed with linen or other stuff to make a turban.
• ochreous (66): Any of several earthy mineral oxides of iron occurring in yellow, brown, or red and used as pigments.
• lewen (67): 
• chazzan (72): a person who leads synagogue services, esp as a profession; cantor
• sheliach (72):  The person leading the congregation in public prayers is called the shaliach tzibbur (Hebrew for "Jewish legal emissary of the congregation")
• roseate (75): rose-colored
• tessellated (87):  having a checkered appearance
• nimbus (102):  a :  a luminous vapor, cloud, or atmosphere about a god or goddess when on earth
  b :  a cloud or atmosphere (as of romance) about a person or thing
• ethnarch (105): the ruler of a people, tribe, or nation.
• habitues (105): a resident of or frequent visitor to a particular place
• decretals (106):  papal letter giving an authoritative decision on a point of canon law
• exciseman (106): an official responsible for collecting excise tax and preventing infringement of the excise laws
• Ganymede (113): a divine hero whose homeland was Troy. Homer describes Ganymede as the most beautiful of mortals.
• Parcae (119): In ancient Roman religion and myth, the Parcae (singular, Parca) were the female personifications of destiny, often called the Fates in English. Their Greek equivalent were the Moirai. They controlled the metaphorical thread of life of every mortal and immortal from birth to death. Even the gods feared the Parcae. Jupiter also was subject to their power.
• virtu (166): collection of traits necessary for maintenance of the state and "the achievement of great things."
• sententious (168): given to moralizing in a pompous or affected manner.
• duumvir (178): each of two magistrates or officials holding a joint office
• tesserae (179):  an individual tile, usually formed in the shape of a cube, used in creating a mosaic. It is also known as an abaciscus or abaculus.
• triremes (180):  "with three banks of oars;"  was an ancient vessel and a type of galley that was used by the ancient maritime civilizations of the Mediterranean, especially the Phoenicians, ancient Greeks and Romans
• votary (188): a person, such as a monk or nun, who has made vows of dedication to religious service.
•  nether (192): situated down or below
• palaestrae (192): A public place in ancient Greece for training and practice in wrestling and other athletics.
• aplustre (196): the curved ornamented stern of an ancient Greek or Roman ship
• clangor (219): a continuous loud banging or ringing sound
• cuirass (223): a piece of armor covering the body from neck to waist; also :  the breastplate of such a piece
• armilustrium (232): a festival in honor of Mars
• encomium (240): a speech or piece of writing that praises someone or something highly
• voluptuousness (271): very attractive because of having large hips and breasts: giving pleasure to the senses
• surcease (273): cessation
• eremitish (292): Characteristic of a hermit; solitary
• prodigality (327): the quality or fact of being prodigal; wasteful extravagance in spending
• dowar (351): a cluster of Arab tents in a circle.
• leben (355): refer to a food or beverage of fermented milk
• solecism (370): a grammatical mistake in speech or writing
• bacchanalia (394): a Roman festival of Bacchus celebrated with dancing, song, and revelry
• ennui (488): a feeling of listlessness and dissatisfaction arising from a lack of occupation or excitement
• vomitoria (506): a passage situated below or behind a tier of seats in an amphitheatre or a stadium, through which big crowds can exit rapidly at the end of a performance.
• myrmidons (539): a loyal follower; especially :  a subordinate who executes orders unquestioningly or unscrupulously
• plinth (578):  a usually square block serving as a base; broadly :  any of various bases or lower parts
• tremulous (626): shaking or quivering slightly
• palanquin (672):  a covered litter for one passenger, consisting of a large box carried on two horizontal poles by four or six bearers.

Good Quotes:

• First Line:  The Jebel es Zubleh is a mountain fifty miles and more in length , and so narrow that its tracery on the map gives it a likeness to a caterpillar crawling from the south to the north.
• Last Line:  Out of that vast tomb Christianity issued to supersede the Caesars.
• “To a wayfarer in a strange land nothing is so sweet as to hear his name on the tongue of a friend,. Pg 16, Book I, chp 3
• The happiness of love is in action; its test is what one is willing to do for others” Pg 23, Book I, chp 4
• I looked for a solitude in which to hide from all but God.  Pg 24,Book I, chp 4
• Religion is merely the law which binds man to his Creator: in purity it has but these elements. Pg 27, Book I, chp 5
• To begin a reform, go not into the places of the great and rich; go rather to those whose cups of happiness are empty--to the poor and humble  pg 32, book 1, chp 5
• Heaven may be won, not by the sword, not by human wisdom, but by Faith, Love, and Good Works. Pg 38, Book I, chp 5
• nothing of their worshipful speeches; of which no part is given, for the thoughtful know that the pure worship of the pure heart was then what it is now, and has always been, an inspired song. Pg 102 Book I, chp 14. (The three wise men)
• so much do we all borrow from the influences that ripen our lives. Pg 133, Book II,  chp 4
• It is a hard, cruel nature which in youth can forget its first loves.  Pg 133, Book II,  chp 4
• While craving justice for ourselves, it is never wise to be unjust to others. Pg 134, Book II,  chp 4
• There is no law by which to determine the superiority of nations; hence the vanity of the claim, and the idleness of disputes about it.   Pg 141, Book II,  chp 5
• A great man, O my boy, is one whose life proves him to have been recognized, if not called, by God.   Pg 142, Book II,  chp 5
• The Greeks have their great glory because they were the first to set Mind above Strength.  Pg 142, Book II,  chp 5
• For a child of Abraham there is no glory except in the Lord's ways, and in them there is much glory. Pg 149, Book II,  chp 5
• Knowledge leaves no room for chances. Pg 188, Book III,  chp 2
• What is the use of tongues when a sigh or a groan will tell all men feel while, perforce, they think in silence?  Pg 189, Book III,  chp 2
• Having adopted the doctrine, like most men with a hobby, he was always looking for illustrations to support it. Pg 191,Book III,  chp 2
• spirit hath much to do with endurance. Pg 197, Book III,  chp 3
• People, generally, are not aware of the ease of mind there is in knowing where they are, and where they are going. The sensation of being lost is a keen distress; still worse is the feeling one has in driving blindly into unknown places. Pg 209, Book III,  chp 4
• Hope deals with the future; now and the past are but servants that wait on her with impulse and suggestive circumstance.    Pg 213, Book III,  chp 5
• A certain facility of accommodation in the matter of religion comes to us after much intercourse with people of a different faith; gradually we attain the truth that every creed is illustrated by good men who are entitled to our respect, but whom we cannot respect without courtesy to their creed.  Pg 275 Book IV, chp 5 
• the vengeful thought that has root merely in the mind is but a dream of idlest sort which one clear day will dissipate; while revenge the passion is a disease of the heart which climbs up, up to the brain, and feeds itself on both alike.  Pg 329, Book IV, chp 11
• God is good to me, very good," he said, fervently. "His habit is to move in mystery, yet sometimes he permits us to think we see and understand him.  Pg 331, Book IV, chp11
• There are realizations which come to us all painfully; mostly, however, such as pertain to ourselves; that we are growing old, for instance; and, more terrible, that we must die.  Pg 333, Book IV, chp 11
• As a rule he fights well who has wrongs to redress; but vastly better fights he who, with wrongs as a spur, has also steadily before him a glorious result in prospect--a result in which he can discern balm for wounds, compensation for valor, remembrance and gratitude in the event of death. Pg 387, Book IV, chp 17
• Only the actions of the just,      Smell sweet and blossom in the dust.  James Shirley, The Contention of Ajax and Ulysses
• It is neither wise nor honest to detract from beauty as a quality....  Beauty is of itself a power. Pg 412, Book V chp 3
• Intelligence is never wasted; intelligence like God's never stirs except with design. Pg 460, Book V chp 8
• A man is never safer than when he is under the laugh. Pg 480, Book V chp 10
• Conditions are pleasant or grievous to us according to our sensibilities. ... As the mind is made intelligent, the capacity of the soul for pure enjoyment is proportionally increased. Well, therefore, if it be saved! If lost, however, alas that it ever had cultivation! its capacity for enjoyment in the one case is the measure of its capacity to suffer in the other. Pg 562, Book VI chp 2
• Men speak of dreaming as if it were a phenomenon of night and sleep. They should know better. All results achieved by us are self-promised, and all self-promises are made in dreams awake.  Pg 580, Book VI chp 3
• Dreaming is the relief of labor, the wine that sustains us in act. We learn to love labor, not for itself, but for the opportunity it furnishes for dreaming, Pg 580, Book VI chp 3
• Living is dreaming. Only in the grave are there no dreams.  Pg 580, Book VI chp 3
• cunning is so easily baffled; and God, always the last resort of the helpless--God is sometimes so slow to act!  Pg 584, Book VI chp 4
• one can wait death with so much more faith out under the open sky.   Pg 604, Book VI chp 5
• He is never alone who is where God is--and God is everywhere.  Pg 632, Book VII chp 2
• a woman to be loved because loving was a habit of life irrepressible with her.  Pg 673, Book VIII, chp 1
• Pure wisdom always directs itself towards God; the purest wisdom is knowledge of God; Pg 678, Book VIII, chp 1“The best way, after all, to reach an understanding of the divine is by study of the human. In the things superior to men we may always look to find God”. Pg 726, Book VIII, chp 6
• “he understood the death was necessary to faith in the resurrection, without which Christianity would be an empty husk.” Pg 763, Book VIII, chp 9

References:

• Wikipedia-Author
• Wikipedia-Book
• Amazon
• GoodReads-Book
• GoodReads-Author
• General Lew Wallace Museum
• Slate online magazine
• NPS Battle of Shiloh story
• Latin Library

The Consipitor's by Lew Wallace on the Lincoln assassination trial