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

Such help as we can give to each other in this world is a debt to each other; and the man who perceives a superiority or a capacity in a subordinate, and neither confesses nor assists it, is not merely the withholder of kindness, but the committer of injury.

When I have been unhappy, I have heard an opera... and it seemed the shrieking of winds; when I am happy, a sparrow's chirp is delicious to me. But it is not the chirp that makes me happy, but I that make it sweet.

No architecture can be truly noble which is not imperfect.

Nearly all the evils in the Church have arisen from bishops desiring power more than light. They want authority, not outlook.

There is rough work to be done, and rough men must do it; there is gentle work to be done, and gentlemen must do it.

To know anything well involves a profound sensation of ignorance.