Next to excellence is the appreciation of it.

But climb on your tears and be silent 

Like a rose on its ladder of thorns 

... 

Then lay your rose on the fire 

The fire give up to the sun

Appreciation is a wonderful thing: 

It makes what is excellent in others 

belong to us as well.

The art of being wise is the art of knowing what to overlook.

Poets are the sense, 

philosophers the intelligence 

of humanity.

And my error has been a good lesson to me

 never to trust in science 

to the principle of exclusion.

Have you seen the land living by the breeze

 Can you understand a light among the trees

In all things of nature 

there is something of the marvellous.

I hold that the mark of a genuine idea 

is that its possibility can be proved, 

either a priori 

by conceiving its cause or reason, 

or a posteriori 

when experience teaches us 

that it is in fact in nature.

To the mind that is still, 

the whole universe surrenders.

Begin at the beginning 

and go on till you come to the end; 

then stop.

Intellect distinguishes between the possible and the impossible; 

reason distinguishes between the sensible and the senseless. 

Even the possible can be senseless.

Keep me away from the wisdom which does not cry, 

the philosophy which does not laugh 

and the greatness which does not bow before children.

Poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings: 

it takes its origin from emotion 

recollected in tranquility.

Humans are nervous, touchy creatures 

and can be easily offended. 

Many are deeply insecure. 

They become focused and energised by taking offence; 

it makes them feel meaningful and alive.