Society is an illusion to the young citizen. It lies before him in rigid repose, with certain names, men, and institutions, rootedlike oak-trees to the centre, round which all arrange themselves the best they can. But the old statesman knows that society is fluid; there are no such roots and centres; but any particle may suddenly become the centre of the movement, and compel the system to gyrate round it, as every man of strong will, like Pisistratus, or Cromwell, does for a time, and every man of truth, like Plato, or Paul, does forever.

For the world was built in order around the atoms march in tune; Rhyme the pipe, and Time the warder, The sun obeys them, and the moon.

If we live truly, we shall see truly. It is as easy for the strong man to be strong, as it is for the weak to be weak.

The primary wisdom is intuition. In that deep force, the last fact behind which analysis cannot go, all things find their origin.

Whatever appeals to the imagination, by transcending the ordinary limits of human ability, wonderfully encourages and liberates us.

The life of man is the true romance, which when it is valiantly conduced, will yield the imagination a higher joy than any fiction.

The populace drags down the gods to their own level.