The modern world is not evil; in some ways the modern world is far too good. It is full of wild and wasted virtues. When a religious scheme is shattered (as Christianity was shattered at the Reformation), it is not merely the vices that are let loose. The vices are, indeed, let loose, and they wander and do damage. But the virtues are let loose also; and the virtues wander more wildly, and the virtues do more terrible damage. The modern world is full of the old Christian virtues gone mad. The virtues have gone mad because they have been isolated from each other and are wandering alone.

We can’t turn life into a pleasure. But we can choose such pleasures as are worthy of us and our immortal souls.

The test of happiness is gratitude.

Modern nature-worship is all upside down. Trees and fields ought to be the ordinary things; terraces and temples ought to be extraordinary. I am on the side of the man who lives in the country and wants to go to London.

We are learning to do a great many clever things. The next great task will be to learn not to do them.

A naked moon stood in a naked sky.

Against a dark sky, all flowers look like fireworks.