Art for art's sake, with no purpose, for any purpose perverts art. But art achieves a purpose which is not its own.
Ever time government attempts to handle our affairs, it costs more and the results are worse than if we had handled them ourselves.
In certain historical periods one has to make the full circle of follies in order to return to reason.
Love makes up for the lack of long memories by a sort of magic. All other affections need a past; love creates a past with envelopes us as if by enchantment.
The danger of modern liberty is that, absorbed in the enjoyment of our private independence, and in the pursuit of our particular interests, we should surrender our right to share in political power too easily.