Those who do not think about their own sins make up for it by thinking incessantly about the sins of others.

The purpose of all opprobrious language is, not to describe, but to hurt - even when, like Hamlet, we make only the shadow-passes of a soliloquised combat. We call the enemy not what we think he is but what we think he would least like to be called.

Reason is the natural order of truth; but imagination is the organ of meaning.

The distinction between pretending you are better than you are and beginning to be better in reality is finer than moral sleuth hounds conceive.

At present we are on the outside of the world, the wrong side of the door. We discern the freshness and purity of morning, but they do not make us fresh and pure. We cannot mingle with the splendours we see. But all the leaves of the New Testament are rustling with the rumour that it will not always be so. Some day, God willing, we shall get in.

Something deep in the human heart breaks at the thought of a life of mediocrity.

Our temptation is to look eagerly for the minimum that will be accepted. We are in fact very like honest but reluctant taxpayers.