For when we are interested in the beauty of a thing, the oftener we can see it the better; but when we are interested only by the story of a thing, we get tired of hearing the same tale told over and over again, and stopping always at the same point - we want a new story presently, a newer and better one - and the picture of the day, and novel of the day, become as ephemeral as the coiffure or the bonnet of the day. Now this spirit is wholly adverse to the existence of any lovely art. If you mean to throw it aside to-morrow, you can never have it to-day.

What we think, or what we know, or what we believe is, in the end, of little consequence. The only consequence is what we do.

Labour without joy is base. Labour without sorrow is base. Sorrow without labour is base. Joy without labour is base.

A little group of wise hearts is better than a wilderness full of fools.

Poetry is bound to concern itself chiefly with permanent aspects of life.

Beauty is merciless. You do not look at it, it looks at you and does not forgive.

A masterpiece of art has in the mind a fixed place in the chain of being, as much as a plant or a crystal.