O be very sure That no man will learn anything at all, Unless he first will learn humility.

Happy indeed the poet of whom, like Orpheus, nothing is known but an immortal name! Happy next, perhaps, the poet of whom, like Homer, nothing is known but the immortal works. The more the merely human part of the poet remains a mystery, the more willing is the reverence given to his divine mission.

Every man who observes vigilantly, and resolves steadfastly, grows unconsciously into genius.

The first essential to success in the art you practice is respect for the art itself.

Philosophy, while it soothes the reason, damps the ambition.

The worst part of an eminent man's conversation is, nine times out of ten, to be found in that part by which he means to be clever.

The more I think of a people calmly developing, in regions excluded from our sight and deemed uninhabitable by our sages, powers surpassing our most disciplined modes of force, and virtues to which our life, social and political, becomes antagonistic in proportion as our civilisation advances - the more devoutly I pray that ages may yet elapse before there emerge into sunlight our inevitable destroyers.