In the utmost solitudes of nature, the existence of hell seems to me as legibly declared by a thousand spiritual utterances as that of heaven.

It was stated, . . . that the value of architecture depended on two distinct characters:--the one, the impression it receives from human power; the other, the image it bears of the natural creation.

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

Not only is there but one way of doing things rightly, but there is only one way of seeing them, and that is, seeing the whole of them.

To be taught to read—what is the use of that, if you know not whether what you read is false or true? To be taught to write or to speak—but what is the use of speaking, if you have nothing to say? To be taught to think—nay, what is the use of being able to think, if you have nothing to think of? But to be taught to see is to gain word and thought at once, and both true.

I cannot but think it an evil sign of a people when their houses are built to last for one generation only.

The proof of a thing's being right is that it has power over the heart; that it excites us, wins us, or helps us.