Manhood and sagacity ripen of themselves; it suffices not to repress or distort them.
George SantayanaPopular poets are the parish priests of the Muse, retailing her ancient divinations to a long since converted public.
George SantayanaAn operation that eventually kills may be technically successful, and the man may die cured; and so a description of religion thatshowed it to be madness might first show how real and warm it was, so that if it perished, at least it would perish understood.
George SantayanaI love moving water, I love ships, I love the sharp definition, the concentrated humanity, the sublime solitude of life at sea. The dangers of it only make present to us the peril inherent in all existence, which the stupid, ignorant, un-travelled land-worm never discovers; and the art of it, so mathematical, so exact, so rewarding to intelligence, appeals to courage and clears the mind of superstition, while filling it with humility and true religion.
George Santayana