The approval of a cat cannot but flatter the recipient.

Giving other people advice is one of the most irritating and useless activities known to man.

Superstition has its practical uses.

If you take a man by surprise, and behave with sufficient arrogance, he will generally do what you ask. -Emerson

Cats always made up to the people who hated them the most. Depending on how you chose to look at it, it was a touching manifestation of trust, or a malicious pleasure in human discomfort.

You are softening toward the young rascal because he is ill, and because he says he likes cats." "It is an engaging quality, Emerson." "That depends," said Emerson darkly, "on how he likes them.

He hesitated for a moment. Then he said softly, "I love you, Mother." He took my hand and kissed it, and folded my fingers round the stem of the rose. He had stripped it of its thorns.