Just as I cannot remember any time when I could not read and write, I cannot remember any time when I did not exercise my imagination in daydreams about women.

Which painting in the National Gallery would I save if there was a fire? The one nearest the door of course.

Assasination on the scaffold is the worst form of assasination, because there it is invested with the approval of society.

The art of manipulating public opinion, which is a necessary art for the democratic politician, and, like other arts, is sometimespractised with greater virtuosity by knaves than by honest men (who are apt to disdain it), has a different technique in different countries. For instance, in England we excel in whitewashing: in America they excel in tarring and feathering. We strain our nerves and stretch our consciences to avoid a scandal: Americans do the same to make one.

Vivisection is a social evil because if it advances human knowledge, it does so at the expense of human character.

Go anywhere in England where there are natural wholesome, contented and really nice English people; and what do you find? That the stables are the real centre of the household.

Never waste jealousy on a real man: it is the imaginary man that supplants us all in the long run.