For every house is incomplete without him, and a blessing is lacking in the spirit.

For there is a sound reasoning upon all flowers. For flowers are peculiarly the poetry of Christ.

There is nothing sweeter than his peace when at rest, for there is nothing brisker than his life when in motion.

Sweet the young muse with love intense, Which smiles o'er sleeping innocence.

For I bless God in the libraries of the learned and for all the booksellers in the world.

Glorious the song, when God's the theme.

Thomas Gray walks as if he had fouled his small- clothes and looks as if he smelt it.

And now the matchless deed's achieved, Determined, Dared, and Done.

Awake before the sun is risen, I call for my pen and papers and desk.

For in my nature I quested for beauty, but God, God hath sent me to sea for pearls.

Too hard for any frog's digestion,To have his froghood call'd in question!

Never, never, never join a movement that persecutes people because of their faith.

One of the rules of caution is not to be too cautious.

I often tell young people that as a writer you are very powerful, that you can make absolutely anything happen.

Man needs music, literature, and painting - all those oases of perfection that make up art - to compensate for the rudeness and materialism of life.

Isn't it a comfort to worship a God we cannot exaggerate?

I can feel you without even seeing you.

It worries me that young singers think you can shortcut the training and go straight to fame and fortune, and programmes like Pop Idol have encouraged that.

80 percent of any gang is not there to attack someone. They're there so no one will attack them.

Charity requires sacrifice, and members of Congress could set a good example of charity by giving up their pay increase.

There's no shame in owning a New Kids on the Block t-shirt. They were my first concert when I was eight.