All our ignorance brings us closer to death.

How unspeakably the lengthening of memories in common endears our old friends!

A human being in this aged nation of ours is a very wonderful hole, the slow creation of long interchanging influences; and charm is a result of two such wholes, the one loving and the one loved.

Great feelings will often take the aspect of error, and great faith the aspect of illusion.

I have a knack of hoping, which is as good as an estate.

There is a mercy which is weakness, and even treason against the common good.

It is painful to be told that anything is very fine and not be able to feel that it is fine--something like being blind, while people talk of the sky.