Many a genius has been slow of growth. Oaks that flourish for a thousand years do not spring up into beauty like a reed. – George Henry Lewes
But every great scripture, whether Hebrew, Indian, Persian, or Chinese, apart from its religious value will be found to have some rare and special beauty of its own and in this respect the original Bible stands very high as a monument of sublime poetry and of artistic prose. – Lafcadio Hearn