People who cannot recognize a palpable absurdity are very much in the way of civilization.

There are many ways of asking a favor; but to assume that you are granting the favor that you ask shows spirit and invention.

Philadelphians are every whit as mediocre as their neighbors, but they seldom encourage each other in mediocrity by giving it a more agreeable name.

Letter-writing on the part of a busy man or woman is the quintessence of generosity.

Innovations to which we are not committed are illuminating things.

In the stress of modern life, how little room is left for that most comfortable vanity that whispers in our ears that failures are not faults! Now we are taught from infancy that we must rise or fall upon our own merits; that vigilance wins success, and incapacity means ruin

Humor distorts nothing, and only false gods are laughed off their earthly pedestals.