I am perplexed at the stupidity of the ordinary religious being. In the most practical of all matters he will talk and speculate and try to feel, but he will not set himself to do.

He (God) loves what I shall be.

As to the pure all things are pure, so the common mind sees far more vulgarity in others than the mind developed in genuine refinement.

Religion is life essential.

How many people would like to be good, if only they might be good without taking trouble about it! They do not like goodness well enough to hunger and thirst after it, or to sell all that they have that they may buy it; they will not batter at the gate of the kingdom of heaven; but they look with pleasure on this or that aerial castle of righteousness, and think it would be rather nice to live in it.

Half of the misery in the world comes from trying to look, instead of trying to be, what one is not.

Were I asked, what is a fairytale? I should reply, Read Undine: that is a fairytale.