The strongest castle, tower, and town, / The golden bullet beats it down. Shakespeare.
The strongest oaths are straw / To the fire i' the blood. Tempest, iv. 1.
The student is to read history actively and 40 not passively; to esteem his own life the text, and books the commentary. Thus compelled, the muse of history will utter oracles as never to those who do not respect themselves. Emerson.
The study of books is a languishing and feeble motion that hearts not, whereas conversation teaches and exercises at once. Montaigne.
The stumbler stumbles least in rugged way. George Herbert.
The style of an author is a faithful copy of his mind. If you would write a lucid style, let there first be light in your own mind; and if you would write a grand style, you ought to have a grand character. Goethe.
The style of letters should not be too highly polished. It ought to be neat and correct, but no more. Blair.
The style of writing required in the great world is distinguished by a free and daring grace, a careless security, a fine and sharp polish, a delicate and perfect taste; while that fitted for the people is characterised by a vigorous natural fulness, a profound depth of feeling, and an engaging naïveté. Goethe.
The sublime is in a grain of dust. Landor.
The sublime is the temple-step of religion, as 5 the stars are of immeasurable space. When what is mighty appears in nature—a storm, thunder, the starry firmament, death—then utter the word "God" before the child. A great misfortune, a great blessing, a great crime, a noble action, are building-sites for a child's church. Jean Paul.