The beautification of the world is not a work of nature, but a work of art, then it involves an artist.

We do not need to get good laws to restrain bad people. We need to get good people to restrain us from bad laws.

The poets have been mysteriously silent on the subject of cheese.

And we were angry and poor and happy, And proud of seeing our names in print.

Wit is a sword; it is meant to make people feel the point as well as see it.

All science, even the divine science, is a sublime detective story. Only it is not set to detect why a man is dead; but the darker secret of why he is alive.

A dead thing goes with the stream, but only a living thing can go against it.

An almost unnatural vigilance is really required of the citizen because of the horrible rapidity with which human institutions grow old.

Once abolish the God, and the Government becomes the God.

And pray where in earth or heaven are there prudent marriages-Might as well talk about prudent suicides.

Marriage is an adventure, like going to war.

Virtue is not the absence of vices or the avoidance of moral dangers; virtue is a vivid and separate thing, like pain or a particular smell.

If a rhinoceros were to enter this restaurant now, there is no denying he would have great power here. But I should be the first to rise and assure him that he had no authority whatever.

Adventure is the champagne of life, but I prefer my champagne and my adventures dry.

All true friendliness begins with fire and food and drink and the recognition of rain or frost.

Always be comic in a tragedy. What the deuce else can you do?

Architecture approaches nearer than any other art to being irrevocable because it is so difficult to get rid of.

A man who says that no patriot should attack the war until it is over is saying no good son should warn his mother of a cliff until she has fallen.

Ingratitude is surely the chief of the intellectual sins of man. He takes his political benefits for granted, just as he takes the skies and the seasons for granted.

Self-denial is the test and definition of self-government.