A genuine work of art usually displeases at first sight, as it suggests a deficiency in the spectator.

Every great idea exerts, on first appearing, a tyrannical influence: Hence, the advantages it brings are turned all too soon into disadvantages.

Mountains cannot be surmounted except by winding paths.

He is the happiest man who can see the connection between the end and the beginning of life.

The world runs on from one folly to another; and the man who, solely from regard to the opinion of others, and without any wish or necessity of his own, toils after gold, honour, or any other phantom, is no better than a fool.

I have found a paper of mine among some others in which I call architecture 'petrified music.' Really there is something in this; the tone of mind produced by architecture approaches the effect of music.

Man is made by his belief. As he believes, so he is.