An artist may visit a museum but only a pedant can live there.

Every real object must cease to be what it seemed, and none could ever be what the whole soul desired.

Philosophers are as jealous as women; each wants a monopoly of praise.

Wisdom comes by disillusionment.

The Universe, so far as we can observe it, is a wonderful and immense engine; its extent, its order, its beauty, its cruelty, makes it alike impressive.

A fanatical imagination cannot regard God as just unless he is represented as infinitely cruel.

The aim of life is some way of living, as flexible and gentle as human nature; so that ambition may stoop to kindness, and philosophy to condor and humor. Neither prosperity nor empire nor heaven can be worth winning at the price of a virulent temper, bloody hands, an anguished spirit, and a vain hatred of the rest of the world.