A force as of madness in the hands of reason has done all that was ever done in the world.

Adversity is the diamond dust Heaven polishes its jewels with.

Professors of the Dismal Science, I perceive the length of your tether is now pretty well run; and I must request you to talk a little lower in the future.

Innumerable are the illusions and legerdemain-tricks of custom: but of all of these, perhaps the cleverest is her knack of persuading us that the miraculous, by simple repetition, ceases to be miraculous.

The world is an old woman, and mistakes any gilt farthing for a gold coin; whereby being often cheated, she will thenceforth trust nothing but the common copper.

Who is there that, in logical words, can express the effect music has on us?

Every noble crown is, and on Earth will forever be, a crown of thorns.