We can know nothing of humankind without knowing something of ourselves. Self-knowledge is the property of those people whose passions have their full play, but who ponder over their results.

London is a modern Babylon.

I am myself a gentleman of the press, and have no other escutcheon.

Most people die with their music still locked up inside them.

The world is weary of statesmen whom democracy has degraded into politicians.

There is no act of treachery or meanness of which a political party is not capable; for in politics there is no honour.

Bore: one who has the power of speech but not the capacity for conversation.