Beware of over-great pleasure in being popular or even beloved. As far as an amiable disposition and powers of entertainment make you so, it is a happiness; but if there is one grain of plausibility, it is poison.

Who can ever be alone for a moment in Italy? Every stone has a voice, every grain of dust seems instinct with spirit from the Past, every step recalls some line, some legend of long-neglected lore.

Life is richly worth living, with its continual revelations of mighty woe, yet infinite hope; and I take it to my breast.

We need to hear the excuses men make to themselves for their worthlessness.

Wine is earth's answer to the sun.

The critic is beneath the maker, but is his needed friend. The critic is not a base caviler, but the younger brother of genius. Next to invention is the power of interpreting invention; next to beauty the power of appreciating beauty. And of making others appreciate it.

A man who means to think and write a great deal must, after six and twenty, learn to read with his fingers.