Theories are usually the over-hasty efforts of an impatient understanding that would gladly be rid of phenomena, and so puts in their place pictures, notions, nay, often mere words.

English plays, Atrocious in content, Absurd in form, Objectionable in action, Execrable EnglishTheatre.

Every reader, if he has a strong mind, reads himself into the book, and amalgamates his thoughts with those of the author.

The most difficult thing is what is thought to be the simplest; to really see the things which are before your eyes.

Wood burns because it has the proper stuff for that purpose in it; and a man becomes renowned because he has the necessary stuff in him. Renown is not to be sought, and all pursuit of it is vain. A person may, indeed, by skillful conduct and various artificial means, make a sort of name for himself; but if the inner jewel is wanting, all is vanity, and will not last a day.

Man can find no better retreat from the world than art, and man can find no stronger link with the world than art.

If all these devils really exist it proves there must be angels, too.