If in the least particular, one could derange the order of nature, who would accept the gift of life?

Society cannot do without cultivated men. As soon as the first wants are satisfied, the higher wants become imperative.

Art is a jealous mistress; and if a man have a genius for painting, poetry, music, architecture or philosophy, he makes a bad husband and an ill provider.

Man is priest, and scholar, and statesman, and producer, and soldier. In the divided or social state these functions are parcelled out to individuals, each of whom aims to do his stint of the joint work, whilst each other performs his.

Everything intercepts us from ourselves.

What has been done in the world - the works of genius - cost nothing. There is no painful effort, but it is the spontaneous flowing of the thought. Shakespeare made his Hamlet as a bird weaves its nest.

Men are conservatives when they are least vigorous or when they are most luxurious-they are conservatives after dinner.