Scotland is the country above all others that I have seen, in which a man of imagination may carve out his own pleasures; there are so many inhabited solitudes.

I found a strawberry blossom in a rock. The little slender flower had more courage than the green leaves, for they were but half expanded and half grown, but the blossom was spread full out. I uprooted it rashly, and I felt as if I had been committing an outrage, so I planted it again. It will have but a stormy life of it, but let it live if it can.

The moonlight lay upon the hills like snow.

An injudicious and malignant enemy often serves the cause he means to injure; but a feeble friend never attains that end.

I think one of the dullest things in the world is a letter filled with apologies for not writing sooner.

The moon shone like herrings in the water.

The days are cold, the nights are long, The North wind sings a doleful song; Then hush again upon my breast; All merry things are now at rest, Save thee, my pretty love!