All things are inconstant except the faith in the soul, which changes all things and fills their inconstancy with light.

I am damnably sick of Italy, Italian and Italians, outrageously, illogically sick.... I hate to think that Italians ever did anything in the way of art.... What did they do but illustrate a page or so of the New Testament! They themselves think they have a monopoly in the line. I am dead tired of their bello and bellezza.

As I am. As I am. All or not at all.

By an epiphany he meant a sudden spiritual manifestation, whether in the vulgarity of speech or of gesture or memorable phrase of the mind itself. He believed it was for the man of letters to record these epiphanies with extreme care (saving them for later use, that is), seeing that they themselves are the most delicate and evanescent of moments.

Sentimentality is unearned emotion.

Thanks be to God we lived so long and did so much good.

The studious silence of the library ... Thought is the thought of thought. Tranquil brightness.