Science lives only in quiet places, and with odd people, mostly poor.

There is nothing so great or so goodly in creation, but that it is a mean symbol of the gospel of Christ, and of the things He has prepared for them that love Him.

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.

There is no action so slight or so mean but it may be done to a great purpose, and ennobled thereby.

In old times men used their powers of painting to show the objects of faith, in later times they use the objects of faith to show their powers of painting.

Men have commonly more pleasure in the criticism which hurts than in that which is innocuous, and are more tolerant of the severity which breaks hearts and ruins fortunes than of that which falls impotently on the grave.

Nothing can be beautiful which is not true.