Nature and Elements

By harming a horse, you decrease his excellence. Thus, by harming a person, you decrease their excellence.

But of the heaven which is above the heavens, what earthly poet ever did or ever will sing worthily?

Love is a good poet and accomplished in all the fine arts; for no one can give to another that which he has not himself, or teach that of which he has no knowledge. Who will deny that the creation of the animals is his doing? Are they not all the works of his wisdom, born and begotten of him? And as to the artists, do we not know that he only of them whom love inspires has the light of fame?

As wolves love lambs so lovers love their loves.

Gardening is civil and social, but it wants the vigor and freedom of the forest and the outlaw.

Gardening is civil and social, but it wants the vigor and freedom of the forest and the outlaw.

Gardening is not a rational act.

One of the most attractive things about the flowers is their beautiful reserve.

The Amen! of Nature is always a flower.

The Amen! of Nature is always a flower.

Earth laughs in flowers.

Earth laughs in flowers.

The flower has no weekday self, dressed as it always is in Sunday clothes.

The family is one of nature’s masterpieces.

Worldly fame is but a breath of wind that blows now this way, and now that, and changes name as it changes direction.

Hearts are flowers; they remain open to the softly-falling dew, but shut up in the violent downpour of rain.

Dogs live with man as courtiers round a monarch, steeped in the flattery of his notice and enriched with sinecures. To push their favor in this world of pickings and caresses is, perhaps, the business of their lives.

My little old dog: A heart-beat at my feet.

The dog is a Yes-animal, very popular with people who can’t afford to keep a Yes-man.

Pigs at a pastry cart.

Insects sting, not in malice, but because they want to live. It is the same with critics: they desire our blood, not our pain.

Critics are like horse-flies which hinder the horses in their plowing of the soil.

Criticism should not be querulous and wasting, all knife and root-puller, but guiding, instructive, inspiring, a south wind, not an east wind.

Warmth is the vital element for the growing plant and for the soul of the child.