If you would attain to your highest, go look upon a flower;what the flower does willessly, that do willingly.

Chains of iron or of silk-both are chains.

There is no such thing as chance; and what seem to us merest accident springs from the deepest source of destiny.

Utility is the great idol of the age, to which all powers must do service and all talents swear allegiance. In this great balance of utility, the spiritual service of art has no weight, and, deprived of all encouragement, it vanishes from the noisy Vanity Fair of our time.

Yet have I ever heard it said that spies and tale-bearers have done more mischief in this world than poisoned bowl or the assassin's dagger.

O jealousy! thou magnifier of trifles.

Arrow-swift the present sweepeth, and motionless forever stands the past.