You may think a crime horrible because you could never commit it. I think it is horrible because I could commit it.

It was the people who did not care who filled the world with fire and oppression. It was the hands of the indifferent that lit the faggots; it was the hands of the indifferent that turned the rack.

Exactly what the fairy tale does is this: it accustoms him for a series of clear pictures to the idea that these limitless terrors had a limit, that these shapeless enemies have enemies in the knights of God, that there is something in the universe more mystical than darkness, and stronger than strong fear.

The paradox of courage is that a man must be a little careless of his life even in order to keep it.

Mysticism keeps mankind sane. As long as you have mystery you have health; when you destroy mystery you create morbidity.

People talk of the pathos and failure of plain women; but it is a more terrible thing that a beautiful woman may succeed in everything but womanhood.

Art is born when the temporary touches the eternal.