All professions are conspiracies against the laity.

A pessimist is a man who thinks everybody is as nasty as himself, and hates them for it.

To a mathematician the eleventh means only a single unit: to the bushman who cannot count further than his ten fingers it is an incalculable myriad.

We veneer civilization by doing unkind things in a kind way.

Instead of Otello being an Italian opera written in the style of Shakespeare, Othello is a play written by Shakespeare in the style of Italian opera.

The thought of two thousand people crunching celery at the same time horrified me.

Without danger I cannot be great. That is how I pay for Abel's blood. Danger and fear follow my steps everywhere. Without them courage would have no sense. And it is courage, courage, courage that raises the blood of life to crimson splendor.