Table talk, to be perfect, should be sincere without bigotry, differing without discord, sometimes grave, always agreeable, touching on deep points, dwelling most on seasonable ones, and letting everybody speak and be heard.

The most tangible of all visible mysteries - fire.

For the qualities of sheer wit and humor, Swift had no superior, ancient or modern.

A pleasure so exquisite as almost to amount to pain.

Music is the medicine of the breaking heart.

I entrench myself in my books equally against sorrow and the weather.

Christmas is the glorious time of great Too-Much.