A large, branching, aged oak is perhaps the most venerable of all inanimate objects.

Trifles discover a character, more than actions of importance.

The regard one shows economy, is like that we show an old aunt who is to leave us something at last.

Amid the most mercenary ages it is but a secondary sort of admiration that is bestowed upon magnificence.

A court of heraldry sprung up to supply the place of crusade exploits, to grant imaginary shields and trophies to families that never wore real armor, and it is but of late that it has been discovered to have no real jurisdiction.

The works of a person that begin immediately to decay, while those of him who plants begin directly to improve. In this, planting promises a more lasting pleasure than building; which, were it to remain in equal perfection, would at best begin to moulder and want repairs in imagination. Now trees have a circumstance that suits our taste, and that is annual variety.

The lines of poetry, the period of prose, and even the texts of Scripture most frequently recollected and quoted, are those which are felt to be preeminently musical.