Sorrow and silence are strong, and patient endurance is godlike.

Art is the child of nature in whom we trace the features of the mothers face.

What discord we should bring into the universe if our prayers were all answered. Then we should govern the world and not God. And do you think we should govern it better? It gives me only pain when I hear the long, wearisome petitions of people asking for they know not what. . . . Thanks-giving with a full heart-and the rest silence and submission to the divine will!

A feeling of sadness and longing, That is not akin to pain, And resembles sorrow only As the mist resembles the rain.

We waste our best years in distilling the sweetest flowers of life into potions which, after all, do not immortalize, but only intoxicate.

If you once understand an author's character, the comprehension of his writings becomes easy.

Softly the evening came /with the sunset/.