The mind of the Renaissance was not a pilgrim mind, but a sedentary city mind, like that of the ancients.

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.

I feel so much the continual death of everything and everybody, and have so learned to reconcile myself to it, that the final and official end loses most of its impressiveness.

The passions grafted on wounded pride are the most inveterate; they are green and vigorous in old age.

Columbus gave the world another world.

If artists and poets are unhappy, it is after all because happiness does not interest them.

All beauties are to be honored, but only one embraced.