[Man] progresses in all things by making a fool of himself.

There are scores of thousands of human insects who are ready at a moment's notice to reveal the Will of God on every possible subject

When a prisoner sees the door of his dungeon open, he dashes for it without stopping to think where he shall get his dinner outside.

The popular definition of tragedy is heavy drama in which everyone is killed in the last act, comedy being light drama in which everyone is married in the last act.

Fine art is the subtlest, the most seductive, the most effective instrument of moral propaganda in the world, excepting only the example of personal conduct; and I waive even this exception in favor of the art of the stage, because it works by exhibiting examples of personal conduct made intelligible and moving to crowds of unobservant unreflecting people to whom real life means nothing.

It is the inefficiency and sham of ... our schools ... that save us from being dashed on the rocks of false doctrine instead of drifting down the midstream of mere ignorance.

When the military man approaches, the world locks up its spoons and packs off its womankind.