In science its main worth is temporary, as a stepping-stone to something beyond. Even [Newton's] Principia ... is truly but the beginning of a natura….

Temporary madness may be necessary in some cases, to cleanse and renovate the mind; just as a fit of illness is to carry off the humours of the body..

Mythology is not religion. It may rather be regarded as the ancient substitute, the poetical counterpart, for dogmatic theology..

Some persons take reproof good-humoredly enough, unless you are so unlucky as to hit a sore place. Then they wince and writhe, and start up and knock….

When will talkers refrain from evil speaking? When listeners refrain from evil hearing. At present there are many so credulous of evil, they will rec….

A person should go out on the water on a fine day to a small distance from a beautiful coast, if he would see Nature really smile. Never does she loo….

Moral prejudices are the stopgaps of virtue; and, as is the case with other stopgaps, it is often more difficult to get either out or in through them….

How deeply rooted must unbelief be in our hearts when we are surprised to find our prayers answered..

Do, and have done. The former is far the easiest..

Most painters have painted themselves. So have most poets: not so palpably indeed, but more assiduously. Some have done nothing else..

Few minds are sunlike, sources of light in themselves and to others: many more are moons that shine with a borrowed radiance. One may easily distin….

When the moon, after covering herself with darkness as in sorrow, at last throws off the garments of her widowhood, she does not at once expose herse….

Leaves are light, and useless, and idle, and wavering, and changeable; they even dance; and yet God in his wisdom has made them a part of oaks. And ….

There is as much difference between good poetry and fine verses, as between the smell of a flower-garden and of a perfumer's shop..

Is bread the better for kneading? so is the heart. Knead it then by spiritual exercises; or God must knead it by afflictions..

Science sees signs; Poetry, the thing signified. Co-author with his brother Julius Hare..

How few are our real wants! and how easy is it to satisfy them! Our imaginary ones are boundless and insatiable..

Every wise man lives in an observatory..

Few are aware that they want any thing, except pounds schillings and pence..

We like slipping, but not falling; our real anxiety is to be tempted enough..

It is natural that affluence should be followed by influence..