Narcissus does not fall in love with his reflection because it is beautiful, but because it is his. If it were his beauty that enthralled him, he would be set free in a few years by its fading.

The most exciting rhythms seem unexpected and complex, the most beautiful melodies simple and inevitable.

Without Art, we should have no notion of the sacred; without Science, we should always worship false gods.

Aphorisms are essentially an aristocratic genre of writing. The aphorist does not argue or explain, he asserts; and implicit in his assertion is a conviction that he is wiser and more intelligent than his readers.

Oh, how I wish that Orwell were still alive, so that I could read his comments on contemporary events!

The Three Wiseman: The weather has been awful, The countryside is dreary, Marsh, jungle, rock; and echoes mock, Calling our hope unlawful; But a silly song can help along Yours ever and sincerely: At least we know for certain that we are three old sinners, that this journey is much too long, that we want our dinners, and miss our wives, our books, our dogs, but have only the vaguest idea why we are what we are. To discover how to be human now Is the reason we follow this star.

No good opera plot can be sensible, for people do not sing when they are feeling sensible.