Goldwin Smith

The Roman legions were formed in the first instance of citizen soldiers, who yet had been made to submit to a rigid discipline, and to feel that in that submission lay their strength. ”

There is a spell in mediaeval Art which has had power to bewitch some people into trying, or wishing to try, or fancying that they wish to try or making believe to fancy that they wish to try, to bring back the Middle Ages. ”

Dante himself is open to the suspicion of partiality: it is said, not without apparent ground, that he puts into hell all the enemies of the political cause, which, in his eyes, was that of Italy and God. ”

No student of history can fail to see the moral interest of the Middle Ages, any more than an artist can fail to see their aesthetic interest. ”

Whatever things may have been in their origin, they are what they are, both in themselves and in regard to their indications respecting other beings or influences the existence of which may be implied in theirs. ”

If it were a real effort to live in the Middle Ages, your life would be one perpetual prevarication. ”

As to London we must console ourselves with the thought that if life outside is less poetic than it was in the days of old, inwardly its poetry is much deeper. ”

The natural barriers between England and Scotland were not sufficient to prevent the extension of the Saxon settlements and kingdoms across the border. ”

The Romans, we are told, were by nature a peculiarly warlike race. ”

The novelist must ground his work in faithful study of human nature. ”