I consider the soul of man as the ruin of a glorious pile of buildings; where, amidst great heaps of rubbish, you meet with noble fragments of sculpture, broken pillars and obelisks, and a magnificence in confusion.

steele - i consider the soul of man ... magnificence in confusion - wist.info quote

Richard Steele (1672–1729) Anglo-Irish writer, journalist, playwright, politician
Essay (1709-10-29), The Tatler, No. 87
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