If a person is stupid, we excuse him by saying that he cannot help it; but if we attempted to excuse in precisely the same way the person who is bad, we should be laughed at.

the brut first knows death when it dies, but man draws consciously nearer to it every hour that he lives; and this makes his life at times a questionable good even to him who has not recognised this character of constant anaihilation in the whole of life.

Any book, which is at all important, should be reread immediately

Just remember, once you're over the hill you begin to pick up speed.

The first rule for a good style is to have something to say; in fact, this in itself is almost enough.

Genius is to other gifts what the carbuncle is to the precious stones. It sends forth its own light, whereas other stones only reflect borrowed light.

A sense of humour is the only divine quality of man