The first test of a truly great man is his humility. By humility I don't mean doubt of his powers or hesitation in speaking his opinion, but merely an understanding of the relationship of what he can say and what he can do.
In general, pride is at the bottom of all great mistakes.
Every great person is always being helped by everybody; for their gift is to get good out of all things and all persons.
A great thing can only be done by a great person; and they do it without effort.
Doing is the great thing, for if people resolutely do what is right, they come in time to like doing it.
That country is the richest which nourishes the greatest number of noble and happy human beings.
The greatest thing a human soul ever does in this world... to see clearly is poetry, prophecy and religion all in one.
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.
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.
Nearly all the powerful people of this age are unbelievers, the best of them in doubt and misery, the most in plodding hesitation, doing as well as they can, what practical work lies at hand.
It is his restraint that is honorable to a person, not their liberty.
Imaginary evils soon become real one by indulging our reflections on them.
Do not think of your faults, still less of other's faults; look for what is good and strong, and try to imitate it. Your faults will drop off, like dead leaves, when their time comes.
You might sooner get lightning out of incense smoke than true action or passion out of your modern English religion.
Every increased possession loads us with a new weariness.
It is impossible, as impossible as to raise the dead, to restore anything that has ever been great or beautiful in architecture. That which I have insisted upon as the life of the whole, that spirit which is given only by the hand and eye of the workman, can never be recalled.
To know anything well involves a profound sensation of ignorance.
Punishment is the last and the least effective instrument in the hands of the legislator for the prevention of crime.
Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you.
The first condition of education is being able to put someone to wholesome and meaningful work.