The first merit of pictures is the effect which they can produce upon the mind; — and the first step of a sensible man should be to receive involuntary effects from them. Pleasure and inspiration first, analysis afterward.

I read for three things; first, to know what the world has done the last twenty-four hours, and is about to do today; second, for the knowledge that I specially want in my work; and third, for what will bring my mind into a proper mood.

Well-married, a man is winged: ill-matched, he is shackled.

You have come into a hard world. I know of only one easy place in it, and that is the grave.

Love cannot endure indifference. It needs to be wanted. Like a lamp, it needs to be fed out of the oil of another's heart, or its flame burns low.

Refinement that carries us away from our fellow-men is not God's refinement.

The call to religion is not a call to be better than your fellows, but to be better than yourself. Religion is relative to the individual.