Success is a poison that should only be taken late in life and then only in small doses.

Of Dickens' style it is impossible to speak in praise. It is jerky, ungrammatical, and created by himself in defiance of rules... No young novelist should ever dare to imitate the style of Dickens.

There are some achievements which are never done in the presence of those who hear of them. Catching salmon is one, and working all night is another.

Poverty, to be picturesque, should be rural. Suburban misery is as hideous as it is pitiable.

Men who can succeed in deceiving no one else, will succeed at last in deceiving themselves.

It is the highest and most legitimate pride of an Englishman to have the letters M.P. written after his name. No selection from the alphabet, no doctorship, no fellowship, be it of ever so learned or royal a society, no knightship,--not though it be of the Garter,--confers so fair an honour.

There was but one thing for him;- to persevere till he got her, or till he had finally lost her. And should the latter be his fate, as he began to fear that it would be, then, he would live, but live only, like a crippled man.