The relative majesty of buildings depends more on the weight and vigour of their masses than any other tribute of their design.

The distinguishing sign of slavery is to have a price, and to be bought for it.

An architect should live as little in cities as a painter. Send him to our hills, and let him study there what nature understands by a buttress, and what by a dome.

The root of almost every schism and heresy from which the Christian Church has suffered, has been because of the effort of men to earn, rather than receive their salvation; and the reason preaching is so commonly ineffective is, that it often calls on people to work for God rather than letting God work through them.

No human being, however great, or powerful, was ever so free as a fish.

... no human actions ever were intended by the Maker of men to be guided by balances of expediency, but by balances of justice.

As unity demanded for its expression what at first might have seemed its opposite--variety; so repose demands for its expression the implied capability of its opposite--energy. It is the most unfailing test of beauty; nothing can be ignoble that possesses it, nothing right that has it not.