Criticism talks a good deal of nonsense, but even its nonsense is a useful force. It keeps the question of art before the world, insists upon its importance.

Excellence does not require perfection.

It is art that makes life, makes interest, makes importance.

It is altogether an extraordinary growing, swarming, glittering, pushing, chattering, good-natured, cosmopolitan place, and perhaps in some ways the best imitation of Paris that can be found (with a great originality of its own).

To live in the world of creation-to get into it and stay in it-to frequent it and haunt it...to think intently and fruitfully, to woo combinations and inspirations into being by a depth and continuity of attention and meditation-this is the only thing.

If you have work to do, don't wait to feel like it; set to work and you will feel like it.

Summer afternoon, summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.