It was a subtle refinement of God to learn Greek when he wished to write a book – and that he did not learn it better.

We take a fancy to something: and scarcely have we thoroughly taken a fancy to it when that tyrant in us calls out: "Give me thatin sacrifice"--and we give it.

You know a moment is important when it is making your mind go numb with beauty.

A refined soul is distressed to know that someone owes it thanks; a crude soul, to know that it owes someone thanks.

There is a rollicking kindness that looks like malice.

Species do not grow more perfect: the weaker dominate the strong, again and again- the reason being that they are the great majority, and they are also cleverer. Darwin forgot the mind (-that is English!): the weak possess more mind. ... To acquire mind, one must need mind-one loses it when one no longer needs it.

'God himself cannot exist without wise men' - Luther said, and was right. But 'God can exist even less without unwise men' - that good old Luther did not say.