By rights, satire is a lonely and introspective occupation, for nobody can describe a fool to the life without much patient self-inspection.

As crowds increase we build our forts of inattention, and the more we talk the easier it is to mean little and listen not at all.

Sin in this country has been always said to be rather calculating than impulsive.

Every man ought to be inquisitive through every hour of his great adventure down to the day when he shall no longer cast a shadow in the sun. For if he dies without a question in his heart, what excuse is there for his continuance?

One learns little more about a man from the feats of his literary memory than from the feats of his alimentary canal.

We do not mind our not arriving anywhere nearly so much as our not having any company on the way.

I have found some of the best reasons I ever had for remaining at the bottom simply by looking at the men at the top.