Man was born to be rich, or to inevitably grow rich, by the use of his faculties: by the union of thought with nature.

In my dealing with my child, my Latin and Greek, my accomplishments and my money stead me nothing; but as much soul as I have avails. If I am wilful, he sets his will against mine, one for one, and leaves me, if I please, the degradation of beating him by my superiority of strength. But if I renounce my will, and act for the soul, setting that up as umpire between us two, out of his young eyes looks the same soul; he reveres and loves with me.

Health is the first muse, and sleep is the condition to produce it.

The eye is the best of artists.

It is one of the beautiful compensations in this life that no one can sincerely try to help another without helping himself.

And of poetry, the success is not attained when it lulls and satisfies, but when it astonishes and fires us with new endeavours after the unattainable.

Ah, if the rich were rich as the poor fancy riches.