The highest point to which a weak but experienced mind can rise is detecting the weakness of better men.

Theologians always try to turn the Bible into a book without common sense.

Ask yourself always: how can this be done better?

If all mankind were suddenly to practice honesty, many thousands of people would be sure to starve.

It is in the gift for employing all the vicissitudes of life to one's own advantage and to that of one's craft that a large part of genius consists.

A writer who wishes to be read by posterity must not be averse to putting hints which might give rise to whole books, or ideas for learned discussions, in some corner of a chapter so that one should think he can afford to throw them away by the thousand.

The most entertaining surface on earth is the human face.