Talent is nothing but long impatience.

There are two consequences in history; an immediate one, which is instantly recognized, and one in the distance, which is not at first perceived. These consequences often contradict each other; ... look to the end of an accomplished fact, and you will see that it has always produced the contrary of what was expected from it.

Justice is the bread of the nation; it is always hungry for it.

Music is the child of prayer, the companion of religion.

A moral character is attached to autumnal scenes; the leaves falling like our years, the flowers fading like our hours, the clouds fleeting like our illusions, the light diminishing like our intelligence, the sun growing colder like our affections, the rivers becoming frozen like our lives--all bear secret relations to our destinies.

An original writer is not one who imitates nobody, but one whom nobody can imitate.

There is nothing beautiful or sweet or great in life that is not mysterious.