Human beings, all over the earth, have this curious idea that they ought to believe in a certain way, and can't really get rid of it.

Pooh! Grown-ups are always thinking of uninteresting explanations.

I'd sooner live among people who don't cheat at cards than among people who are earnest about not cheating at cards.

But one of the worst results of being a slave and being forced to do things is that when there is no one to force you any more you find you have almost lost the power of forcing yourself.

Whatever he says, let his inner resolution be not to bear whatever comes to him, but to bear it 'for a reasonable period'--and let the reasonable period be shorter than the trial is likely to last. It need not be much shorter; in attacks on patience, chastity, and fortitude, the fun is to make the man yield just when (had he but known it) relief was almost in sight.

This world is a great sculptor's shop. We are the statues and there is a rumor going round the shop that some of us are some day going to come to life.

She remembered, as every sensible person does, that you should never never shut yourself up in a wardrobe.