The origin of all science is the desire to know causes, and the origin of all false science is the desire to accept false causes rather than none; or, which is the same thing, in the unwillingness to acknowledge our own ignorance.

If our hours were all serene, we might probably take almost as little note of them as the dial does of those that are clouded.

The love of letters is the forlorn hope of the man of letters. His ruling passion is the love of fame.

We often forget our dreams so speedily: if we cannot catch them as they are passing out at the door, we never set eyes on them again.

Love at first sight is only realizing an imagination that has always haunted us; or meeting with a face, a figure, or cast of expression in perfection that we have seen and admired in a less degree or in less favorable circumstances a hundred times before.

Rules and models destroy genius and art.

Those who are fond of setting things to rights, have no great objection to seeing them wrong.