Toleration ought in reality to be merely a transitory mood. It must lead to recognition. To tolerate is to affront.

The dignity of art probably appears most eminently with music since it does not have any material that needs to be discounted. Music is all form and content and elevates and ennobles everything that it expresses.

And I have again observed, my dear friend, in this trifling affair, that misunderstandings and neglect occasion more mischief in the world than even malice and wickedness. At all events, the two latter are of less frequent occurrence.

Democracy does not race, it reaches the finish slowly but surely.

How many years you have to keep on doing, until you know what to do and how to do!

What you can do, or think you can, begin it.

When intelligent and sensible people despise knowledge in their old age, it is only because they have asked too much of it and of themselves.