The temper of mind that sees tragedy in life has not for its opposite the temper that sees joy. The opposite pole to the tragic view of life is the sordid view.

Poetry and preaching do not go well together; when the preacher mounts the pulpit the poet usually goes away.

It was a Roman who said it was sweet to die for one's country. The Greeks never said it was sweet to die for anything. They had no vital lies.

There is no dignity like the dignity of a soul in agony.

Ages of faith and of unbelief are always said to mark the course of history.

Uncertainty is the prerequisite to gaining knowledge and frequently the result as well.

Civilization...is a matter of imponderables, of delight in the thins of the mind, of love of beauty, of honor, grace, courtesy, delicate feeling. Where imponderables, are things of first importance, there is the height of civilization, and, if at the same time, the power of art exists unimpaired, human life has reached a level seldom attained and very seldom surpassed.