I 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 SantayanaWe crave support in vanity, as we do in religion, and never forgive contradictions in that sphere.
George SantayanaNature is like a beautiful woman that may be as delightfully and as truly known at a certain distance as upon a closer view; as to knowing her through and through; that is nonsense in both cases, and might not reward our pains.
George SantayanaThe mind of the Renaissance was not a pilgrim mind, but a sedentary city mind, like that of the ancients.
George Santayana