The Roman legions were formed in the first instance of citizen soldiers, who yet had been made to submit to a rigid discipline, and to feel that in that submission lay their strength.

The novelist must look on humanity without partiality or prejudice. His sympathy, like that of the historian, must be unbounded, and untainted by sect or party.

The insular arrogance of the English character is a commonplace joke.

Dante himself is open to the suspicion of partiality: it is said, not without apparent ground, that he puts into hell all the enemies of the political cause, which, in his eyes, was that of Italy and God.

Rome was great in arms, in government, in law.

America is supposed to be given over to ugliness. There are a good many ugly things there and the ugliest are the most pretentious.

Art is expression, and to have high expression you must have something high to express.