The truth of Nature is a part of the truth of God; to him who does not search it out, darkness; to him who does, infinity.

What is really desired, under the name of riches, is essentially, power over men ... this power ... is in direct proportion to the poverty of the men over whom it is exercised, and in inverse proportion to the number of persons who are as rich as ourselves.

In order that a man may be happy, it is necessary that he should not only be capable of his work, but a good judge of his work.

You might sooner get lightning out of incense smoke than true action or passion out of your modern English religion.

Milton saw not, and Beethoven heard not, but the sense of beauty was upon them, and they fain must speak.

... Amongst all the mechanical poison that this terrible nineteenth century has poured upon men, it has given us at any rate one antidote - the Daguerreotype. (1845)

The imagination is never governed, it is always the ruling and divine power.