The mind, once stretched by a new idea, never returns to its original dimensions.

Let him be great, and love shall follow him. Nothing is more deeply punished than the neglect of the affinities by which alone society should be formed, and the insane levity of choosing associates by others eyes.

The book, the college, the school of art, the institution of any kind, stop with some past utterance of genius. . . . They look backward and not forward. But genius looks forward: the eyes of man are set in his forehead, not in his hindhead: man hopes: genius creates. Whatever talents may be, if the man create not, the pure efflux of the Deity is not his; - cinders and smoke there may be, but not yet flame.

A new degree of intellectual power seems cheap at any price.

People only see what they are prepared to see.

All the great speakers were bad speakers at first.

No man can have society upon his own terms.