Modern education has devoted itself to the teaching of impudence, and then we complain that we can no longer control our mobs.

The true grotesque being the expression of the repose or play of a serious mind, there is a false grotesque opposed to it, which is the result of the full exertion of a frivolous one.

The purest and most thoughtful minds are those which love colour the most.

No girl who is well bred, 'kind, and modest, is ever offensively plain; all real deformity means want of manners, or of heart.

The common practice of keeping up appearances with society is a mere selfish struggle of the vain with the vain.

In mortals there is a care for trifles which proceeds from love and conscience, and is most holy; and a care for trifles which comes of idleness and frivolity, and is most base. And so, also, there is a gravity proceeding from thought, which is most noble; and a gravity proceeding from dulness and mere incapability of enjoyment, which is most base.

No architecture can be truly noble which is not imperfect.