There is no obligation on us to be richer, or busier, or more efficient, or more productive, or more progressive, or any way worldlier or wealthier, if it does not make us happier.

Literature and fiction are two entirely different things. Literature is a luxury; fiction is a necessity.

There are arguments for atheism, and they do not depend, and never did depend, upon science. They are arguable enough, as far as they go, upon a general survey of life; only it happens to be a superficial survey of life.

America has a genius for the encouragement of fame.

I wish we could sometimes love the characters in real life as we love the characters in romances. There are a great many human souls whom we should accept more kindly, and even appreciate more clearly, if we simply thought of them as people in a story.

The object of opening the mind, as of opening the mouth, is to shut it again on something solid.

And they that rule in England, in stately conclaves met, alas, alas for England they have no graves as yet.