Experience has taught me, when I am shaving of a morning, to keep watch over my thoughts, because, if a line of poetry strays into my memory, my skin bristles so that the razor ceases to act.

Tomorrow, more's the pity, Away we both must hie, To air the ditty and to earth I.

We now to peace and darkness And earth and thee restore Thy creature that thou madest And wilt cast forth no more.

Existence is not itself a good thing, that we should spend a lifetime securing its necessaries: a life spent, however victoriously, in securing the necessaries of life is no more than an elaborate furnishing and decoration of apartments for the reception of a guest who is never to come. Our business here is not to live, but to live happily.

I could no more define poetry than a terrier can define a rat.

Great literature should do some good to the reader: must quicken his perception though dull, and sharpen his discrimination though blunt, and mellow the rawness of his personal opinions.

When the journey's over/There'll be time enough to sleep.