Reputation is only a candle, of wavering and uncertain flame, and easily blown out, but it is the light by which the world looks for and finds merit.

Certainly it is no shame to a man that he should be as nice about his country as his sweetheart, yet it would not be wise to hold everyone an enemy who could not see her with our own enchanted eyes.

It is not a great Xerxes army of words, but a compact Greek ten thousand that march safely down to posterity.

The eye is the notebook of the poet.

Thank God every morning when you get up that you have something to do that day, which must be done, whether you like it or not.

A wise skepticism is the first attribute of a good critic.

Compromise makes a good umbrella, but a poor roof; it is temporary expedient, often wise in party politics, almost sure to be unwise in statesmanship.