Those who are quite satisfied sit still and do nothing; those who are not quite satisfied are the sole benefactors of the world.

Religion is the eldest sister of philosophy: on whatever subjects they may differ, it is unbecoming in either to quarrel, and most so about their inheritance.

Harmonious words render ordinary ideas acceptable; less ordinary, pleasant; novel and ingenious ones, delightful. As pictures and statues, and living beauty, too, show better by music-light, so is poetry irradiated, vivified, glorified', and raised into immortal life by harmony.

No ashes are lighter than those of incense, and few things burn out sooner.

Prose on certain occasions can bear a great deal of poetry; on the other hand, poetry sinks and swoons under a moderate weight of prose.

The sublime is contained in a grain of dust.

The happy never say, and never hear said, farewell.