If there is one thing worse than the modern weakening of major morals, it is the modern strengthening of minor morals.

To be born into this earth is to be born into uncongenial surroundings, hence to be born into a romance.

A man must be prepared not only to be a martyr, but to be a fool. It is absurd to say that a man is ready to toil and die for his convictions if he is not even ready to wear a wreathe around his head for them.

The most unfathomable schools and sages have never attained to the gravity which dwells in the eyes of a baby of three months old. It is the gravity of astonishment at the universe, and astonishment at the universe is not mysticism, but a transcendent common-sense. The fascination of children lies in this: that with each of them all things are remade, and the universe is put again upon its trial.

Unless a man starts afresh about things, he will certainly do nothing effective. Unless a man starts on the strange assumption that he has never existed before, it is quite certain that he will never exist afterwards.

The great Gaels of Ireland are the men that God made mad, For all their wars are merry, and all their songs are sad.

We make our friends; we make our enemies; but God makes our next door neighbour.