Things are pretty, graceful, rich, elegant, handsome, but, until they speak to the imagination, not yet beautiful.

Four snakes gliding up and down a hollow for no purpose that I could see - not to eat, not for love, but only gliding.

Democracy is morose, and runs to anarchy, but in the state, and in the schools, it is indispensable to resist the consolidation ofall men into a few men.

The house is a castle which the King cannot enter.

Poetry must be as new as foam and as old as the rock.

Perhaps it is the lowest of the qualities of an orator, but it is, on so many occasions, of chief importance,--a certain robust and radiant physical health; or--shall I say?--great volumes of animal heat.

[T]omorrow is a new day. You shall begin it well & serenely, & with too high a spirit to be cumbered with your old nonsense. This day ... is too dear with its hopes & invitations to waste a moment on the rotten yesterdays.