Never suffer youth to be an excuse for inadequacy, nor age and fame to be an excuse for indolence.

How difficult it is to get men to believe that any other man can or does act from disinterestedness!

The only legitimate artists in England are the architects.

Never suffer youth to be an excuse for inadequacy, nor age and fame to be an excuse for indolence.

Never disregard what your enemies say. They may be severe, they may be prejudiced, they may be determined to see only in one direction, but still in that direction see clearly. They do not speak all the truth, but they generally speak the truth from one point of view; so far as that goes, attend to them.

The explanation of the propensity of the English people to portrait painting is to be found in their relish for a Fact. Let a man do the grandest things, fight the greatest battles, or be distinguished by the most brilliant personal heroism, yet the English people would prefer his portrait to a painting of the great deed. The likeness they can judge of; his existence is a Fact. But the truth of the picture of his deeds they cannot judge of, for they have no imagination.

The safest principle through life, instead of reforming others, is to set about perfecting yourself.