A garland of quotations CXII

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An emerald is as green as grass;
A ruby red as blood;
A sapphire shines as blue as heaven;
A flint lies in the mud.

A diamond is a brilliant stone,
To catch the world’s desire;
An opal holds a fiery spark;
But a flint holds fire.
•Christina Rossetti, Sing-Song (1872).

At that time you carried your ashes to the mountains; Would you now carry your fire into the valley? Do you not fear to be punished as an arsonist?
•Nietzsche, Thus Spake Zarathurstra (1883).

The largest...