Pretty! in amber to observe the forms
Of hairs, of straws, or dirt, or grubs, or worms!
read more

Pretty! in amber to observe the forms
Of hairs, of straws, or dirt, or grubs, or worms!
The things, we know, are neither rich nor rare,
But wonder how the devil they got there.

Wonder [said Socrates] is very much the affection of a
philosopher; for there is no other beginning of philosophy read more

Wonder [said Socrates] is very much the affection of a
philosopher; for there is no other beginning of philosophy than
this.

Long stood the noble youth oppress'd with awe,
And stupid at the wondrous things he saw,
Surpassing read more

Long stood the noble youth oppress'd with awe,
And stupid at the wondrous things he saw,
Surpassing common faith, transgressing nature's law.

Can such things be,
And overcome us like a summer's cloud
Without our special wonder?

Can such things be,
And overcome us like a summer's cloud
Without our special wonder?

Wonders I sing; the sun has set; no night has followed.
[Lat., Mira cano; sol occubuit;
Nox read more

Wonders I sing; the sun has set; no night has followed.
[Lat., Mira cano; sol occubuit;
Nox nulla secuta est.]

The things that have been and shall be no more,
The things that are, and that hereafter shall be,
read more

The things that have been and shall be no more,
The things that are, and that hereafter shall be,
The things that might have been, and yet were not,
The fading twilight of joys departed.

Nothing but what astonishes is true.

Nothing but what astonishes is true.

There's something in a flying horse,
There's something in a huge balloon.

There's something in a flying horse,
There's something in a huge balloon.

If a man proves too clearly and convincingly to
himself . . . that a tiger is an optical read more

If a man proves too clearly and convincingly to
himself . . . that a tiger is an optical illusion--well, he will
find out he is wrong. The tiger will himself intervene in the
discussion, in a manner which will be in every sense conclusive.