Without mountains the air could not be purified, nor the flowing of the rivers sustained.

He who has learned what is commonly considered the whole art of painting, that is, the art of representing any natural object faithfully, has as yet only learned the language by which his thoughts are to be expressed.

How long most people would look at the best book before they would give the price of a large turbot for it?

It is far better to give work that is above a person, than to educate the person to be above their work.

He is the greatest artist who has embodied, in the sum of his works, the greatest number of the greatest ideas.

Ship of the line is the most honourable thing that man, as a gregarious animal, has ever produced.

Being thus prepared for us in all ways, and made beautiful, and good for food, and for building, and for instruments of our hands, this race of plants, deserving boundless affection and admiration from us, becomes, in proportion to their obtaining it, a nearly perfect test of our being in right temper of mind and way of life; so that no one can be far wrong in either who loves trees enough, and everyone is assuredly wrong in both who does not love them, if his life has brought them in his way.