You acquire a language most readily in the country where it is spoken; you study mineralogy best among miners; and so with everything else.

If a man writes a book, let him set down only what he knows. I have guesses enough of my own.

The one who acts is always without conscience; nobody has a conscience but the contemplative person.

We are pantheists as natural scientists, polytheists as poets, and monotheists as moral beings.

National literature does not mean much these days; now is the age of world literature, and every one must contribute to hasten thearrival of that age.

Few men have imagination enough for reality.

As for what I have done as a poet, I take no pride in whatever. Excellent poets have lived at the same time with me, poets more excellent lived before me, and others will come after me. But that in my country I am the only person who knows the truth in the difficult science of colors-of that, I say, I am not a little proud, and here have a consciousness of superiority to many.