Nothing but what astonishes is true.

Nothing but what astonishes is true.

A schoolboy's tale, the wonder of an hour!

A schoolboy's tale, the wonder of an hour!

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.

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.

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.

"Never see . . . a dead post-boy, did you?" inquired
Sam. . . . "No," rejoined Bob, "I read more

"Never see . . . a dead post-boy, did you?" inquired
Sam. . . . "No," rejoined Bob, "I never did." "No!" rejoined Sam
triumphantly. "Nor never vill; and there's another thing that no
man never see, and that's a dead donkey."

Men love to wonder and that is the seed of our science.

Men love to wonder and that is the seed of our science.

He shall have chariots easier than air,
That I will have invented; . . . And thyself,
read more

He shall have chariots easier than air,
That I will have invented; . . . And thyself,
That art the messenger, shalt ride before him
On a horse cut out of an entire diamond.
That shall be made to go with golden wheels,
I know not how yet.

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?