That water which wall from some Alpine height is dashed, broken,
and will murmur loudly, but grows limpid by read more

That water which wall from some Alpine height is dashed, broken,
and will murmur loudly, but grows limpid by its fall.
[It., Quell' onda, che ruina
Dalla pendice alpina,
Balza, si frange, e mormora
Ma limpida si fa.]

The plastic virtues: purity, unity, and truth, keep nature in subjection.

The plastic virtues: purity, unity, and truth, keep nature in subjection.

The sick do not ask if the hand that smoothes their pillow is pure, nor the dying care if the read more

The sick do not ask if the hand that smoothes their pillow is pure, nor the dying care if the lips that touch their brow have known the kiss of sin.

The undressed is vulgar - the nude is pure

The undressed is vulgar - the nude is pure

Purity of mind and idleness are incompatible.

Purity of mind and idleness are incompatible.

We are not naïve enough to ask for pure men; we ask merely for men whose impurity does not conflict read more

We are not naïve enough to ask for pure men; we ask merely for men whose impurity does not conflict with the obligations of their job.

Come, night; come, Romeo; come, thou day in night;
For thou wilt lie upon the wings of night
read more

Come, night; come, Romeo; come, thou day in night;
For thou wilt lie upon the wings of night
Whiter than new snow upon a raven's back.

Mud-pies gratify one of our first and best instincts. So long as we are dirty, we are pure.

Mud-pies gratify one of our first and best instincts. So long as we are dirty, we are pure.

The purity men love is like the mists which envelope the earth, and not like the azure ether beyond.

The purity men love is like the mists which envelope the earth, and not like the azure ether beyond.