When a nation gives birth to a man who is able to produce a great thought, another is born who read more

When a nation gives birth to a man who is able to produce a great thought, another is born who is able to understand and admire it

The only things one can admire at length are those one admires without knowing why.

The only things one can admire at length are those one admires without knowing why.

here is an innocence in admiration; it is found in those to whom it has never yet occurred that they, read more

here is an innocence in admiration; it is found in those to whom it has never yet occurred that they, too, might be admired some day.

Admiration is a very short-lived passion that immediately decays upon growing familiar with its object, unless it be still fed read more

Admiration is a very short-lived passion that immediately decays upon growing familiar with its object, unless it be still fed with fresh discoveries, and kept alive by a new perpetual succession of miracles rising up to its view.

The best emotions to write out of are anger and fear or dread. . . . The least energizing emotion read more

The best emotions to write out of are anger and fear or dread. . . . The least energizing emotion to write out of is admiration . . . because the basic feeling that goes with admiration is a passive contemplative mood.

Heroes themselves had fallen behind!
--Whene'er he went before.

Heroes themselves had fallen behind!
--Whene'er he went before.

Admiration is a very short-lived passion, that immediately decays upon growing familiar with its object.

Admiration is a very short-lived passion, that immediately decays upon growing familiar with its object.

The secret of happiness is to admire without desiring.

The secret of happiness is to admire without desiring.

What I have known with respect to myself, has tended much to lessen both my admiration, and my contempt, of read more

What I have known with respect to myself, has tended much to lessen both my admiration, and my contempt, of others.