Great nations write their autobiographies in three manuscripts - the book of their deeds, the book of their words and the book of their art.

All that we call ideal in Greek or any other art, because to us it is false and visionary, was, to the makers of it, true and existent.

No art can be noble which is incapable of expressing thought, and no art is capable of expressing thought which does not change.

It is in this power of saying everything, and yet saying nothing too plainly, that the perfection of art consists.

The art which we may call generally art of the wayside, as opposed to that which is the business of men's lives, is, in the best sense of the word, Grotesque.

Endurance is nobler than strength, and patience than beauty.

Beauty deprived of its proper foils and adjuncts ceases to be enjoyed as beauty, just as light deprived of all shadows ceases to be enjoyed as light.

The principle of all successful effort is to try to do not what is absolutely the best, but what is easily within our power, and suited for our temperament and condition.

Education is the leading of human souls to what is best, and making what is best out of them.

How long most people would look at the best book before they would give the price of a large turbot for it?