René of Anjou [(1409-80)] painted a picture of his mistress's corpse as he found it eaten by worms on having it [her tomb] openedon his return from a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. This [is] another instance of the strange mixture of religion and gallantry in those ages.

When people will not weed their own minds, they are apt to be overrun by nettles.

Oh, we are ridiculous animals; and if the angels have any fun in them, how we must divert them!

By deafness one gains in one respect more than one loses; one misses more nonsense than sense.

Life is a comedy for those who think and a tragedy for those who feel.

Had I children, my utmost endeavors would be to make them musicians.

Poetry is a beautiful way of spoiling prose, and the laborious art of exchanging plain sense for harmony.