As much wisdom may be expended on a private economy as on an empire, and as much wisdom may be drawn from it.

Every burned book enlightens the world.

Far off, men swell, bully, and threaten; bring them hand to hand, and they are feeble folk.

The men who carry their points do not need to inquire of their constituents what they should say, but are themselves the country which they represent: nowhere are its emotions or opinions so instant and so true as in them; nowhere so pure from a selfish infusion.

Genius seems to consistent merely in trueness of sight.

When believers and unbelievers live in the same manner - I distrust the religion.

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.