It is hard to mesmerize ourselves, to whip our own top; but through sympathy we are capable of energy and endurance. Concert fires people to a certain fury of performance they can rarely reach alone.

Health is the first muse, and sleep is the condition to produce it.

Art is not to be found by touring to Egypt, China, or Peru; if you cannot find it at your own door, you will never find it.

The best of life is conversation.

Of course you will insist on modesty in the children, and respect to their teachers, but if the boy stops you in your speech, cries out that you are wrong and sets you right, hug him!

It is hard to go beyond your public. If they are satisfied with cheap performance, you will not easily arrive at better. If they know what is good, and require it. you will aspire and burn until you achieve it. But from time to time, in history, men are born a whole age too soon.

In the last analysis, love is only the reflection of a man's own worthiness from other men.