An American Virgin would never dare command; an American Venus would never dare exist.

Every one must bear his own universe, and most persons are moderately interested in learning how their neighbors have managed to carry theirs.

Unity is vision; it must have been part of the process of learning to see.

Power is poison. Its effect on Presidents had always been tragic.

I think that Lee should have been hanged. It was all the worse that he was a good man and a fine character and acted conscientiously... It's always the good men who do the most harm in the world.

[Adams] supposed that, except musicians, everyone thought Beethoven a bore, as every one except mathematicians thought mathematics a bore.

They know enough who know how to learn.