I hate to be near the sea, and to hear it roaring and raging like a wild beast in its den. It puts me in mind of the everlasting efforts of the human mind, struggling to be free, and ending just where it began.

Art is the microscope of the mind, which sharpens the wit as the other does the sight; and converts every object into a little universe in itself. Art may be said to draw aside the veil from nature. To those who are perfectly unskilled in the practice, unimbued with the principles of art, most objects present only a confused mass.

Just as much as we see in others we have in ourselves.

We prefer ourselves to others, only because we a have more intimate consciousness and confirmed opinion of our own claims and merits than of any other person's.

Every man, in his own opinion, forms an exception to the ordinary rules of morality.

Reflection makes men cowards.

Books are a world in themselves, it is true; but they are not the only world. The world itself is a volume larger than all the libraries in it.