Every man contemplates an angel in his future self.

Colleges, in like manner, have their indispensable office,--to teach elements. But they can only highly serve us, when they aim not to drill, but to create; when they gather from far every ray of various genius to their hospitable halls, and, by the concentrated fires, set the hearts of their youth on flame.

Good writing is a kind of skating which carries off the performer where he would not go.

He who is in love is wise and is becoming wiser.

The greatest homage to truth is to use it.

Sooner or later that which is now life shall be poetry, and every fair and manly trait shall add a richer strain to the song.

I believe it is the conviction of the purest men, that the net amount of man and man does not much vary. Each is incomparably superior to his companion in some faculty. His want of skill in other directions, has added to his fitness for his own work.