"Why is it that water, so monotonous in its characteristics, should nevertheless possess a charm for every mind? I believe it is chiefly because it bears the impress of the Creator, which we feel neither the power of time or of man can efface or alter."

“In neglected fields the fern grows, which must be cleared out by fire.”

“Melbourne is wonderfully altered since I last saw it. There are some very fair buildings in it now, and things are a little cheaper than they used to be.”

Source : William John Wills (1863). “A Successful Exploration Through the Interior of Australia: From Melbourne to the Gulf of Carpentaria”, p.48, London : R. Bentley

“I believe that if you think about disaster, you will get it. Brood about death and you will hasten your demise. Think positively and masterfully with confidence and faith, and life becomes more secure, more fraught with action, richer in achievement and experience. This is the sure way to win victories over inner defeat. It is the way a humble person meets life or death.”

“the restricting of intellectual and spiritual needs to the mania of progress”

“Crisis is the rallying cry of the tyrant.”

“Literature is the one place in any society where, within the secrecy of our own heads, we can hear voices talking about everything in every possible way.”

“Wine to me is something that brings people together.  Wine does promote conversation and promote civility, but it's also fascinating.  It's the greatest subject to study.  No matter how much you learn, every vintage is going to come at you with different factors that make you have to think again.”

Source : "Lion in Winter: Robert M. Parker Jr. Addresses Wine Writers" by Richard Jennings, www.huffingtonpost.com. February 27, 2014.

“Prior to the internet, the last technology that had any real effect on the way people sat down and talked together was the table”