In museums and palaces we are alternate radicals and conservatives.

Oxford lends sweetness to labour and dignity to leisure.

The story had held us, round the fire, sufficiently breathless, but except the obvious remark that it was gruesome, as, on Christmas Eve in an old house, a strange tale should essentially be . . .

Nothing, of course, will ever take the place of the good old fashion of 'liking' a work of art or not liking it; the more improved criticism will not abolish that primitive, that ultimate, test.

If I were to live my life over again, I would be an American. I would steep myself in America, I would know no other land.

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.

We must grant the artist his subject, his idea, his donn´e: our criticism is applied only to what he makes of it.