The whole history of modern poetry is a continuous commentary on the short text of philosophy: every art should become science, and every science should become art; poetry and philosophy should be united.

One should have wit, but not wish to have it; otherwise there will be witticism, the Alexandrian style of wit.

In many a poetic work, one gets here and there, instead of representation merely a title indicating that this or that was supposedto be represented here, that the artist has been prevented from doing it and most humbly asks to be kindly excused.

Wit is absolutely sociable spirit or aphoristic genius.

There is so much poetry, and yet nothing is more rare than a poetic work. This is what the masses make out of poetical sketches, studies, aphorisms, trends, ruins, and raw material.

Form your life humanly, and you have done enough: but you will never reach the height of art and the depth of science without something divine.

An artist is he for whom the goal and center of life is to form his mind.