Heaven deliver us, what's a poet? Something that can't go to bed without making a song about it.

[O]ne can scarcely be frightened off writing what one wants to write for fear an obscure reviewer should patronise one on that account.

Lord, teach us to take our hearts and look them in the face, however difficult it may be.

We cannot really look at the movement of the Spirit, just because It is the Power by which we do the looking.

Have you noticed that the astronomers and mathematicians are much the most cheerful people of the lot? I suppose that perpetually contemplating things on so vast a scale makes them feel either that it doesn't matter a hoot anyway, or that anything so large and elaborate must have some sense in it somewhere.

Lawyers enjoy a little mystery, you know. Why, if everybody came forward and told the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth straight out, we should all retire to the workhouse.

She always says, my lord, that facts are like cows. If you look them in the face hard enough they generally run away.