It seems a fantastic paradox, but it is nevertheless a most important truth, that no architecture can be truly noble which is not imperfect.

Better a child should be ignorant of a thousand truths than have consecrated in its heart a single lie.

Don't just look at buildings ... watch them.

High art consists neither in altering, nor in improving nature; but in seeking throughout nature for 'whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are pure;' in loving these, in displaying to the utmost of the painter's power such loveliness as is in them, and directing the thoughts of others to them by winning art, or gentle emphasis.

No day is without its innocent hope.

When the whole world turns clown, and paints itself red with its own hearts blood instead of vermilion, it is something else than comic.

There is hardly anything in the world that some man cannot make a little worse and sell a little cheaper, and the people who consider price only are this man's lawful prey.