Quotes from Charles Godfrey Leland

To Paradise, the Arabs say, Satan could never find the way Until the peacock led him in.

Sweet music! sacred tongue of God.

When in God thou believest, near God thou wilt certainly be.

Life will be lengthened while growing, for Thought is the measure of life.

It was the noise Of ancient trees falling while all was still Before the storm, in the long interval Between the gathering clouds and that light breeze Which Germans call the Wind's bride.

Thought is the measure of life.

Time fleeth on, Youth soon is gone, Naught earthly may abide; Life seemeth fast, But may not last-- It runs as runs the time.

The brave deserve the lovely - every woman may be won.

They saw a Dream of Loveliness descending from the train.

Love leads to present rapture,-then to pain; But all through Love in time is healed again.

The Lord of Learning who upraised mankind from being silent brutes to singing men.

Only a cad as low as a thief Would write in a book or turn down a leaf, Since 'tis thievery, as well is known, To make free with that which is not our own.

The growth of Sentiment is the increase of suffering; man is never entirely miserable until he finds out how wronged he is and fancies that he sees far ahead a possible freedom.

Very few have any conception of the degree to which gypsies have been the colporteurs of what in Italy is called "the old faith," or witchcraft.

For there are two distinct religions, "one good if the other fails," in La Romagna, and many still believe that that of the spirits, or ancient gods, is, on the whole, the most to be relied

Closely allied to the belief in these old deities, is a vast mass of curious tradition, such as that there is a spirit of every element or thing created, as for instance of every plant and mineral, and a guardian or leading spirit of all animals; or, as in the case of silkworms, two--one good and one evil.