The best servant does his work unseen.

Fame usually comes to those who are thinking about something else - very rarely to those who say to themselves, 'Go to, now, let us be a celebrated individual!'.

Do not be bullied out of your common sense by the specialist; two to one, he is a pedant.

We call those poets who are first to mark, Through earth's dull mist the coming of the dawn, Who see in twilight's gloom the first pale spark, While others only note that day is gone.

Fresh air is good if you do not take too much of it; most of the achievements and pleasures of life are in bad air.

When I think of talking, it is of course with a woman. For talking at its best being an inspiration, it wants a corresponding divine quality of receptiveness, and where will you find this but in a woman?

To reach a port we must sail, sometimes with the wind, and sometimes against it. But we must not drift or lie at anchor.