[Gratitude is] the cheerfulness of wisdom.

Wisdom is infused into every form.

When a man says to me, "I have the intensest love of nature," at once I know that he has none.

But in every constitution some large degree of animal vigor is necessary as material foundation for the higher qualities of the art.

It is dainty to be sick if you have leisure and convenience for it.

Do not be too timid and squeamish about your actions. All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better. What if they are a little coarse and you may get your coat soiled or torn? What if you do fail, and get fairly rolled in the dirt once or twice? Up again, you shall never be so afraid of a tumble.

In different hours, a man represents each of several of his ancestors, as if there were seven or eight of us rolled up in each man's skin, - seven or eight ancestors at least, and they constitute the variety of notes for that new piece of music which his life is.