In painting he prepared all his own colors, and would not let servants or students even mix them.
Raphael's enthusiasm inspired every artist in Italy, and his modest, charming manners disarmed envy and jealousy.

He has been called the only distinguished man who lived and died without an enemy or detractor.

Again and again poor Bunyan might have had his liberty; but not the separation from his poor blind daughter Mary, which he said was like pulling the flesh from his bones; not the need of a poor family dependent upon him; not the love of liberty nor the spur of ambition could induce him to forego his plain preaching in public places.

He had so forgotten his early education that his wife had to teach him again to read and write.

It was the enthusiasm of conviction which enabled this poor, ignorant, despised Bedford tinker to write his immortal allegory with such fascination that a whole world has read it.
Only thoughts that breathe in words that burn can kindle the spark slumbering in the heart of another.
Rare consecration to a great enterprise is found in the work of the late Francis Parkman.