Marina

“In the elements themselves, of which all sub-elementary things are composed, there is no acquiescence, but a vicissitudinary transmutation into one another: air condensed becomes water, a more solid body, and air rarefied becomes fire, a body more disputable and inapparent. It is so in the condition of men, too: a merchant condensed, kneaded and packed up in a great estate, becomes a lord; and a merchant rarefied, blown up by a perfidious factor, or by a riotous son, evaporates into air, into nothing, and is not seen. And if there were anything permanent and durable in this world, yet we got nothing by it, because howsoever that it might last in itself, yet we could not last to enjoy it; if our goods were not amongst moveables, yet we ourselves are; if they could stay with us, yet we cannot stay with them.”
― John Donne, The Sermons of John Donne

“He would praise her beyond the moon and stars, and that so sweetly and ravishingly, as I persuade myself he was more in love with his own curious forming fancy than her face; and truth is, many become passionate lovers only to win praise to their wits.”
― Thomas Nashe, The Unfortunate Traveller and Other Works

“A sentence is but a cheveril glove to a good wit. How quickly the wrong side may be turned outward!”
― William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night

“Oh God! To hear the insect on the leaf pronouncing on the too much life among his hungry brothers in the dust !”
― Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol