Our relations to each other are oblique and casual.

Mankind have such a deep stake in inward illumination, that there is much to be said by the hermit or monk in defence of his life of thought and prayer.

It is easy to see that what is best written or done by genius in the world, was no man's work but came by wide social labor, whena thousand wrought like one, sharing the same impulse.

The two terrors that discourage creativity and creative living are fear of public opinion and undue reverence for one's own consistency.

Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us, or we find it not. The best of beauty is a finer charm than skill in surfaces, in outlines, or rules of art can ever teach, namely, a radiation from the work of art of human character, — a wonderful expression through stone, or canvas, or musical sound, of the deepest and simplest attributes of our nature, and therefore most intelligible at last to those souls which have these attributes.

Rings and other jewels are not gifts, but apologies for gifts. The only gift is a portion of thyself.

Such is the active power of good temperament! Great sweetness of temper neutralizes such vast amounts of acid.