I can't do with mountains at close quarters — they are always in the way, and they are so stupid, never moving and never doing anything but obtrude themselves.
Mountains are to the rest of the body of the earth, what violent muscular action is to the body of man. The muscles and tendons of its anatomy are, in the mountain, brought out with force and convulsive energy, full of expression, passion, and strength.
The ordinary man looking at a mountain is like an illiterate person confronted with a Greek manuscript.
Thou hast a voice, great Mountain, to repeal. Large codes of fraud and woe; not understood by all, but which the wise, and great, and good interpret, or make felt, or deeply feel.